Tag

Space Surveillance

All articles tagged with #space surveillance

science22 days ago•6 min saved

Apophis 2029 Flyby Could Be Complicated by Space Debris

Astronomers say asteroid 99942 Apophis will skim Earth in April 2029 at roughly 32,000 km distance. While a direct hit remains unlikely, a new study finds a small chance that debris in geostationary orbit could collide with Apophis, potentially muddying the interpretation of the flyby data. ESA’s RAMSES and NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX will observe the event, and any collision would likely produce a small crater and ejecta without significantly altering the asteroid’s trajectory. The work also highlights gaps in our knowledge of high-Earth-orbit debris and calls for improved surveillance before 2029.

via ScienceAlert|

#apophis #geostationary-orbit #near-earth-asteroid

militaryspace-archive4 months ago•14 min saved

Space Force selects 14 vendors for a decade-long, $1.8B geosynchronous surveillance push

The U.S. Space Force selected 14 companies to compete for task orders under the Andromeda program—a $1.8 billion, 10-year procurement to develop satellites and systems for tracking activity in geosynchronous orbit, starting with RG-XX satellites to replace the current GSSAP fleet and create a more distributed, updatable GEO-surveillance architecture.

via SpaceNews|

#andromeda-program #defense-contractors #geosynchronous-orbit

technology5 months ago•3 min saved

Anduril expands space-tracking capabilities with ExoAnalytic acquisition

Anduril Industries plans to acquire ExoAnalytic Solutions, a private operator of roughly 400 ground-based telescopes that monitor objects in orbit and provide space-domain awareness data to the U.S. government. The deal would significantly grow Anduril’s space division, folding ExoAnalytic into its space and engineering unit and integrating its tracking data with Anduril’s Lattice platform for fused sensing, with potential external sales of space-tracking data after regulatory approvals and concurrent plans to advance Anduril’s own space missions.

via SpaceNews|

#anduril-industries #exoanalytic-solutions #mergers-and-acquisitions

science5 months ago•16 min saved

Earth at Risk: Over 15,000 City-Killing Asteroids Remain Undetected

NASA warns at an AAAS meeting that more than 15,000 asteroids large enough to destroy a city remain undetected, leaving Earth with little warning time; only about 40% of roughly 25,000 known city-scale asteroids have been cataloged, while many remain dark or near the Sun. Improving detection through the planned Near-Earth Object Surveyor and expanded ground- and space-based surveys, plus international coordination and sustained funding, could provide crucial warning time to mitigate impacts, but a late discovery could still arrive with limited time to respond.

via Earth.com|

#asteroid-detection #nasa #near-earth-objects

science10 months ago•2 min saved

Hidden Insights of China, India, and Russia on 3I/ATLAS

China, India, and Russia have detected 3I/ATLAS using their observatories but have not shared their findings publicly, highlighting issues of data fragmentation and the need for global cooperation in tracking interstellar objects.

via WION|

#3iatlas #data-transparency #international-cooperation

science11 months ago•4 min saved

NASA Mistakes Elon’s Tesla for Asteroid in Solar Orbit

Astronomers mistakenly identified Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster as a dangerous asteroid, highlighting challenges in space object classification and the need for improved monitoring technologies amidst increasing space debris and private space missions.

via LeftLaneNews|

#asteroid #nasa #science

science-and-technology1 year ago•3 min saved

Blue Origin Launches Blue Ring Mission to Enhance Space Domain Awareness

Blue Origin is partnering with Scout Space to launch the Owl AI-powered space surveillance sensor on its Blue Ring spacecraft in Spring 2026, aiming to enhance space situational awareness and support national security by detecting and tracking objects in orbit, including debris and satellites, from geostationary transfer orbit to operational geostationary orbit.

via Space|

#blue-origin #blue-ring #owl-sensor

space1 year ago•4 min saved

Chinese Spacecraft Ready for Orbital Refueling Amid US Satellite Surveillance

China's Shijian-21 and Shijian-25 satellites are maneuvering in geostationary orbit for a rendezvous and docking, likely to demonstrate on-orbit refueling capabilities, amid nearby U.S. surveillance satellites, highlighting advancements in satellite servicing and strategic space activities.

via SpaceNews|

#chinese-satellites #geostationary-orbit #orbital-refueling

science-and-technology1 year ago•1 min saved

Third Asteroid of 2024 Hits Earth Hours After Detection

A small asteroid, 2024 UQ, impacted Earth on October 22, just hours after being detected by the ATLAS system in Hawaii. Although the 3-foot asteroid disintegrated harmlessly over the Pacific Ocean, its sudden appearance highlights the need for improved space surveillance. This marks the third "imminent impactor" event this year, emphasizing the limitations of current tracking systems and the importance of enhancing early detection technologies to prevent potential risks from larger, undetected objects.

via Bizz Buzz|

#asteroid #atlas #esa

technologydefense2 years ago•1 min saved

SpaceX Deploys Initial Satellites for US Spy Network

SpaceX launched the first batch of operational spy satellites for a new U.S. intelligence network aimed at enhancing space-based surveillance capabilities. The launch is part of a broader initiative involving multiple launches through 2028, with Northrop Grumman also participating in the project. This development underscores the U.S. government's increasing reliance on SpaceX for critical missions.

via Yahoo Finance|

#national-reconnaissance-office #satellites #space-surveillance

technologydefense2 years ago•1 min saved

SpaceX Begins Deployment of US Spy Satellites

SpaceX launched the first batch of operational spy satellites for a new U.S. intelligence network aimed at enhancing space-based surveillance capabilities. The Falcon 9 rocket carried the satellites from Vandenberg Space Force Base, marking the beginning of several planned launches in 2024. This initiative underscores the U.S. government's reliance on SpaceX for critical missions and highlights the growing importance of satellite technology in global intelligence operations.

via Reuters.com|

#national-reconnaissance-office #satellites #space-surveillance

space-security2 years ago•1 min saved

True Anomaly Secures $100 Million to Advance Space Security Technologies

Denver-based startup True Anomaly has raised $100 million in a Series B funding round led by Riot Ventures, with participation from several other investors. True Anomaly specializes in producing small satellites for surveillance and reconnaissance in space, primarily targeting the military and intelligence markets. The funding will be used to further advance the company's mission, including the development of its spacecraft called Jackal, training services for military satellite operators, and expanding its staff. The first two Jackal satellites are scheduled to launch in March 2024.

via SpaceNews|

#jackal-spacecraft #military-satellites #series-b-funding

space-technology2 years ago•5 min saved

Enhanced Star Trackers Revolutionize Satellite Debris Monitoring

Belgian spacecraft component specialist Arcsec and Portuguese space traffic management venture NeuraSpace are collaborating on the development of star-tracking sensors that would enable satellites to detect hazardous orbital debris that is too small to be detected from the ground. The upgraded star trackers would provide data to NeuraSpace, allowing them to track smaller orbital debris. Redwire has also developed a star tracker with debris detection capabilities, set to be launched in the next three to six months. Other manufacturers are exploring the development of star trackers for debris detection. The addition of debris-monitoring capabilities to star trackers would enhance space safety and improve orbit calculations.

via SpaceNews|

#orbital-debris #satellite-technology #space-safety

space2 years ago•2 min saved

Advancing Space Detection: WVU Researchers Tackle Untrackable Objects

A new federally funded project aims to detect and monitor dangerous pieces of tiny space debris that are currently untrackable. While larger objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) are monitored by the U.S. Air Force's Space Surveillance Network, smaller debris poses a significant threat due to their high speeds. The project, funded by the U.S. government's IARPA program, will first detect and characterize the tiny debris pieces, with the goal of developing technologies and algorithms to track them. One potential solution involves using existing star trackers onboard satellites to map the paths of debris pieces. Experts warn that a major collision among space debris is inevitable without improved tracking technology or changes in behavior.

via Space.com|

#collision-prevention #space #space-debris

defense3 years ago•1 min saved

SAIC Secures $574M Contract for Space Force Radar Site Maintenance

The U.S. Space Force has awarded Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) a $574.5 million contract to maintain ground-based radar sensors used for missile warning and space surveillance. SAIC will be responsible for maintaining radar sites located in Greenland, Alaska, the United Kingdom, California, Massachusetts, and North Dakota. These radar sites were originally built during the Cold War to detect and track intercontinental and sea-launched ballistic missiles, as well as conduct general space surveillance and satellite tracking. The contract was previously held by Northrop Grumman.

via SpaceNews|

#defense #missile-warning #radar-sensors