Since 1957, there has been one satellite-on-satellite collision between a defunct Russian satellite and an Iridium satellite. Yet the entire industry wants to spend billions of dollars using what we consider to be very questionable and expensive methods to lasso, harpoon, etc. large orbital debris. These approaches create new, smaller debris. With Launchspace’s space-based sensor constellation, enhanced space situational awareness and space traffic management are possible. Therefore, when a large RSO is detected and tracked, a conjunction warning to a customer would result in them performing a small delta-v maneuver to move their satellite out of harm’s way.
Launchspace’s approach is to use space-based sensors to detect all orbital debris, have customers maneuver away from large debris and Launchspace will use large debris impact pads (DIPs) orbiting in equatorial LEO, to remove small orbital debris that threatens our customers.
Launchspace has multiple patents for our orbital debris solution.
It is the small orbital debris that is hard to detect and track, that can damage or destroy spacecraft or block whole regions of LEO from an impending chain reaction called the Kessler Effect.
