The next gen radar for detecting micro-debris and enabling a safer LEO
With Low Earth Orbit (LEO) becoming increasingly crowded, satellite operators, space agencies and aerospace companies are facing rising threats from orbital debris. With in excess of 10,000 active satellites in space, alongside an ever-accumulating amount of debris, the risk of collisions is escalating. Even small particles – no larger than a grain of sand – pose a serious threat to billion-dollar missions, global connectivity, astronaut safety, and the longterm sustainability of space operations.
Richard Jacklin, Commercial Lead at Plextek
Current ground-based systems’ inability to adequately track debris smaller than 10cm means these types of particles have been an ‘invisible threat’ for space operations over the years. The consequence? Mission planners have been operating with incomplete data and limited options for collision avoidance. What the industry needs is more continuous monitoring data, in real-time, that can detect debris as small as 1 mm and debris clusters at various altitudes and locations around Earth. This data can then be used to improve orbital models and hence guide mission planners more efficiently.
The ESA Zero Debris Initiative, which aims to significantly limit debris production in Earth and Lunar orbits by 2030, depends on this technological evolution to succeed.
MMWAVE RADAR’S ROLE IN DETECTION CAPABILITY
mmWave radar offers continuous, high-resolution, realtime space debris detection. Operating at high frequencies, this radar allows operators to:
• Identify high-density debris fields
• Adjust orbital trajectories
• Enhance shielding strategies
• Improve predictive debris modelling
This aligns closely with ESA’s space situational awareness efforts and Europe’s leadership in responsible space operations.
MATCHING MOMENTUM IN THE NORTH AMERICAN MARKET
Momentum in the US is building with NASA investing heavily in space situational awareness and debris mitigation, and with the US Space Force prioritizing domain awareness capabilities. It is clear that there is a significant demand in the US market for more precise, space-based tracking solutions as the current tracking infrastructure lacks sub-millimeter resolution
SpaceX’ Starlink, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, and Telesat’s Lightspeed are facing increasing regulatory scrutiny over orbital congestion. So, as satellite mega constellations grow, real-time debris awareness is now an operational necessity.
THE NEW ERA OF DEBRIS DETECTION
An integrated mmWave radar system offers agencies the unique opportunity to detect sub-millimeter debris, marking a breakthrough in monitoring even the smallest fragments. Unlike traditional methods, mmWave systems offer high-frequency, non-impact sensing in the form of a compact satellite payload. Scanning within a defined beamwidth, mmWave can identify debris in real-time which can enhance:
