Electro Optics Systems (EOS), a provider of advanced aerospace technology, has been awarded a contract from the Concept Technology Demonstrator (CTD) of the Department of Defense, to show effective integration and operation of its electro-optic space surveillance sensors with current space surveillance sensors/radars.
EOS sensors are based on the optical and laser technology. They had performed well during the period between 2005 and 2010, but were inoperable with the then existing infrastructure. They were also expensive to operate. EOS has been operating under a $4.3 million fund under the Australian Space Research Program to show a completely automated operation of sensors for accurate, long-range tracking. This would show the cost-effectiveness of operating these sensors.
According to the new contract, the sensors would be tested with the currently existing radars for space surveillance in real-time operations. The project would show the co-operation between radar tracking systems and laser tracking systems for detecting and determining objects in space.
Satellite operators need to know the precise track of the objects in space so as to avoid collisions. Lasers can lock on to objects and their precise orbit can be determined. ESA and NASA estimate that over 300,000 objects orbit the Earth, and a collision between the objects would be devastating.
Orbit predictions that are generated from radar data are not accurate enough to predict all the collisions. EOS has been developing a technology to track satellites and small space debris with improved accuracy. The company will be partnering with Northrop Grumman for studying how the US-based radar could be linked to EOS' Australian-based sensors for accurately tracking space objects.
Source: http://www.eos-aus.com/