US Space Surveillance Telescope to track space debris

A ground-based telescope, developed by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has the potential to scan skies faster than any other telescope of its size and will help in protecting satellites from collisions with space debris and also with each other. The Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) will be used to protect US and international satellites in orbit around Earth.

Ground and space-based networks currently track an estimated 22,000 artificial objects orbiting Earth. These range from small bits of space debris to large satellites. This number, according to experts, is expected to triple over the next 20 years.

The danger is lethal as even a centimetre-sized piece of debris can cause considerable damage to crucial weather, communication or missile-warning systems.

The US Air Force keeps a catalogue of all known orbiting objects through its Space Surveillance Network, an integrated system of ground- and space-based telescopes and radar. The network tracks debris to anticipate possible impacts, but better surveillance is needed to cope with the increasing number of objects, say US Air Force experts.

The SST would focus mostly on the geosynchronous orbit, about 35,000 kilometres from Earth.

The telescope has a wide field of view, and can scan the sky several times in one night. It can collect data faster for dimmer objects than existing telescopes in the Space Surveillance Network. With the increased information that it provides, officials will be able to better predict the path of debris and warn satellite operators of potential collisions.