ODIN Passes First Demo Test for Tracking Space Junk, Will Upscale Technology With Trajectory Mapping

ODIN Space of London has made a milestone - its new method of tracking space junk just passed its first demo test. The company has been working on developing and qualifying technology to detect and track space junk.

ODIN's Sensor to Track Space Junk Works

The D-Orbit ION satellite, sent into orbit as part of SpaceX's Transporter-8 mission on June 12, has the company's first demonstration sensor.

ODIN has confirmed with D-Orbit that its onboard sensor is active and has detected mild acoustic vibrations from its host satellite after spending more than a week in orbit, Space.com reported.

ODIN's debris sensor had its sensitivity set to an extraordinarily high level to ensure that even the tiniest readings from the ION satellite could be caught during this demonstration mission. Thousands of pieces of trackable debris are currently in orbit around Earth. As the space economy expands, this number is anticipated to rise rapidly through the 2030s and beyond.

Only debris fragments bigger than 4 inches (10 cm) can be tracked according to existing technology. ODIN thinks that its technique will make tracking the sub-centimeter debris that threatens satellites, space stations, and other on-orbit infrastructure easier and travels at nearly bullet speed and near invisibility.

According to James New, ODIN's CEO and co-founder, in a press release, they will concentrate on providing their customers with the next generation of space data and send many more sensors to every orbit. He added that by comprehending how deadly sub-centimeter debris behaves, they can protect space assets, maximize growth, and promote sustainability in space.

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What's Next For ODIN?

ODIN aims to protect all space assets by mapping invisible orbital debris. Its mission is to deliver the most precise and trustworthy information on deadly but unseen orbital debris with its cutting-edge network of impact detectors placed on every satellite in every orbit.

Using its network of on-orbit impact detectors, ODIN Space supports the entire space industry with high-resolution data on the threat posed by orbital debris. The company also offers data-driven insights on objects in low-Earth Orbit (LEO) and geostationary equatorial orbit (GEO).

According to ODIN, the technology will now be scaled up to enter the commercial market. Once operational, ODIN's sub-centimeter sensor will monitor debris as small as 1/250th of an inch (0.1 millimeters), its size, location, and, for the first time, its speed and direction.

By using this trajectory mapping, ODIN hopes to create intricate models of sub-centimeter debris that will help thousands of Earth-orbiting satellites be more aware of their surroundings.

Space junk has been an increasing problem. In a previous report from The Science Times, Japanese space company Astroscale also developed a space-cleaning vehicle to decontaminate LEO.

Astroscale designed End of Life Services by Astroscale-Multiple (ELSA-M) spacecraft to capture and deorbit defunct satellites. To show how dangerously crowded space is and that it's time to act, they shared footage showing over 2,200 dead satellites and over 630 instances of debris-producing on-orbit accidents.