Humanity's ability to send things into space has only increased the amount of debris around the solar system, and the Space Surveillance Telescope is a new, incredibly powerful optical device that will help scientists to track that space junk. Developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA, the Space Surveillance Telescope will be able to account for far more space debris than any other telescope on Earth.
The new telescope, which is 3.5 meters long and weighs 90 tons, can monitor objects as small as softballs as far as 22,000 miles away. To put that into relative perspective, DARPA has said that the Space Surveillance Telescope moves from seeing "only a few objects at a time through the equivalent of a drinking straw to a windshield view with 10,000 objects at a time."
What's Driving This Trend
- Space Debris Tracking
- The Space Surveillance Telescope offers an innovative solution to better track and monitor space debris.
- Advanced Optics Technology
- The development of powerful object-tracking telescopes presents opportunities for disruptive innovation in the field of advanced optics technology.
- Increased Space Exploration Safety
- The Space Surveillance Telescope contributes to increasing safety measures for space exploration by providing accurate monitoring of space debris.
Who This Affects Most
- Aerospace
- The aerospace industry can benefit from the Space Surveillance Telescope's object-tracking capabilities, improving space exploration and satellite safety.
- Defense
- The defense industry can leverage the technology of the Space Surveillance Telescope to enhance space situational awareness and protect satellites.
- Optics
- The optics industry has opportunities to develop and commercialize advanced optical technologies based on the innovations brought by the Space Surveillance Telescope.
