Company tracks satellites and other objects; helps prevent collisions that could destroy satellites and deny future access to space
Slingshot Aerospace is one of the nominees for the 2024 SpaceNews Icon Awards Space Safety and Security category. Slingshot’s main mission is to monitor and track satellites and help prevent collisions between space objects.
Number of Satellites Increasing Each Year
This is no small task as there are over 8000 active space objects in orbit today. Slingshot estimates there will be approximately 100,000 in orbit by 2030.
| Image: Slingshot Aerospace
Slingshot’s Many Missions
Slingshot’s missions including space domain awareness, space traffic coordination, space security and defense, satellite operations, and training and education. A key component of its overall operation is its ground-based sensor network. The company maintains more than 20 global sites, with over 150 optical sensors tracking and monitoring space objects.
Slingshot’s Seradata Database of Satellites
Slingshot’s sensors have made more than 500 million observations, which the company keeps track of in its Seradata database. This is “the industry’s leading satellite and launch database, providing detailed data on every launch attempt and spacecraft deployed into orbit.”
Telescopes Tracking Satellites and Other Space Objects in Different Orbits
The sensors are basically a network of telescopes and arrays collecting data. More specifically the telescopes have gimbals which use servo motors to aim and move them at high speed. These sensors track objects in both Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Geostationary Orbit (GEO). Slingshot then uses its software to convert the data into useable information for its customers.
Slingshot provides several services for its customers. One of these is “uncued” or scheduled data collection tracking satellite movements. Another service is to use the gimbaled telescopes to monitor high-priority satellites, a sort of high-tech subscription plan. These sensors are capable of detecting and tracking objects as small as CubeSats, nanosatellites about 4-5 cubic inches and weighing about three pounds.
Satellite and Space Object Collision Avoidance a Key Priority for Slingshot
Slingshot’s mission is about more than data collection. A big part of their focus is on preventing and avoiding collisions in space. Their software is able to produce warnings or alerts based on its detection of maneuvers and direction changes by satellites and other space objects.
A 2021 report by the MITRE Corporation. “The Impacts of Large Constellations of Satellites,” adds some context to this situation. The report shows just how serious collisions in space can be and how the risk is growing. The report contains analysis and recommendations by JASON, an independent group of scientists that advises the U.S. Government on science and technology issues.
The report states that with the growing numbers of space objects and deployment of large satellite constellations, with roughly 500 satellites each, the risk of collisions increases. These collisions will then lead to more debris in orbit, making the situation even more hazardous for other satellites and orbiting facilities like the International Space Station.
Potential Hazards from Obsolete Satellites
JASON found that once satellites become too old , almost all of them can become vulnerable to collisions. unless they are successfully brought down or “deorbited.” Inactive, obsolete satellites still orbiting increase the odds for more collisions of space objects, causing the risks to become worse over time.
Additionally, debris fields from collisions lead to more damage to other satellites and reduce the observation capabilities of land-based optical and radio astronomy telescopes. The MITRE Corporation report describes a JASON simulation based on current satellite projections and found growing debris fields will lead to “a runaway cascade of collision that renders orbits near 1200 km (745 miles) unusable within 25 years.”
A line from the MITRE Corporation report report makes this even more clear: “We are just now at the dawn of experiencing frequent destruction from collisions.”
Chinese Experiment Shows Importance of Tracking Space Objects
The MITRE report also describes a 2007 Chinese experiment where they destroyed one of their “defunct” or inactive Fengyun satellites with an anti-satellite missile. This created a cloud of space debris with more than 3000 trackable fragments. They estimate it will take decades for most of the debris to reenter the atmosphere and no longer present a hazard.
Considering the importance of satellites for communication, military applications, and other uses, Slingshot Aerospace becomes especially valuable. Their ability to track objects and identify potential collisions makes space operations safer and more effective.
mission in 1983. | image: nasa
Slingshot Aerospace Nominated for SpaceNews Safety and Security Award
The description for the SpaceNews Safety and Security category states, “This award honors efforts that enhance the safety, security, and resilience of space activities, including debris management, satellite protection, and space situational awareness.” Slingshot Aerospace seems to meet this criteria.
SpaceNews is not the only organization recognizing Slingshot’s capabilities. The company has attracted many customers including DARPA, Inmarsat, NOAA, Northrup Grumman, United States Space Force, NASA, and others.
