The orbit is crowded.
We track what threatens it.
Optical detection and characterisation of space debris from La Palma's extreme-dark skies. Serving ADR operators, ESA programmes, conjunction analysts, and orbital insurance providers.
Low Earth Orbit is approaching a critical threshold
The Kessler cascade — a runaway collision chain that renders orbital regimes unusable — is no longer theoretical. It is a planning constraint. Every untracked fragment above 1 cm is a potential mission-ending event. Optical SST from high-quality sites like La Palma is the ground truth that radar cannot always provide.
What we track. What we deliver.
La Palma's extreme sky darkness (SQM 22.03) and sub-arcsecond seeing give optical access to debris populations that are invisible to most ground-based sensors. We detect, track, and characterise — from catalogued objects to newly-discovered fragments.
Small Debris Detection — cm-scale in LEO
Optical detection of sub-catalogued debris (1–10 cm class) using wide-field survey mode. Streak detection algorithms identify fast-moving objects against the stellar background. Each detection time-tagged with GPS-disciplined accuracy <1 ms.
Rotational State & Light Curves
Multi-band photometric time series to determine rotation period, tumble state, and reflectivity variation. Critical input for ADR mission planning: a tumbling object requires very different capture strategies from a stable one.
Re-entry Prediction Support
Tracking during the final orbital decay phase: atmospheric drag regime confirmation, ballistic coefficient estimation, area-to-mass ratio inference. Reduces re-entry window uncertainty for casualty risk assessment and maritime/aviation NOTAMs.
Conjunction Assessment for Active Operators
High-quality optical observations to refine CDM-identified conjunctions involving debris objects. When radar track quality is insufficient, optical astrometry from La Palma provides the missing arc to distinguish a real threat from a false alarm.
Fragmentation Event Response
Rapid-response survey capability following a fragmentation event (explosion, collision). Catalogue new fragments, determine initial orbit populations, and support conjunction screening updates. Tasking within 30 minutes of alert.
Pre-approach Target Characterisation
Comprehensive characterisation package for Active Debris Removal and On-Orbit Servicing targets: rotation vector, angular velocity, approximate size and mass estimate from reflectivity, surface condition inference from light curve morphology.
Where optical SST outperforms radar
Radar is essential for LEO debris tracking — but it has fundamental limits. Optical sensors from dark, high-altitude sites fill the gaps that radar cannot reach.
GEO & HEO: radar is effectively blind
At geostationary distances (35,786 km), radar cross-section requirements exceed any existing ground-based radar for objects smaller than ~1 m. Optical sensors detect GEO debris down to ~30 cm with modest apertures under La Palma's dark sky.
Photometric characterisation: radar cannot measure
Radar measures RCS — a complex function of shape and material. Optical photometry measures reflected sunlight — directly linked to rotation state, attitude, and surface condition. Only optical sensors provide the light curves needed for ADR mission design.
Small objects in MEO: radar sensitivity drops sharply
For objects in GPS/Galileo orbital regimes (~20,000 km), radar detectability degrades significantly. Optical tracking from La Palma maintains V~19 sensitivity at MEO — detecting objects as small as a few centimetres under good conditions.
Atlantic coverage gap: radar network is sparse
The Atlantic sector between West Africa and the Caribbean has minimal radar SST coverage. La Palma's optical sensors provide continuous coverage of the Atlantic arc — extending track arcs for objects that would otherwise have single-pass solutions.
New fragmentations: initial optical survey is fastest
In the hours following a fragmentation event, optical wide-field survey can characterise the initial fragment cloud faster than radar networks can update their tasking. First-look optical surveys provide essential input for rapid conjunction screening updates.
Supporting the missions that will clean the orbit
ADR is moving from research to operational reality. ClearSpace-1, Astroscale ELSA-M, D-Orbit, and the ESA Clean Space initiative are building the missions. We provide the ground-truth characterisation they need.
Target characterisation for ADR & OOS missions
Before any robotic capture or servicing operation, you need to know exactly what you're approaching: Is it tumbling? At what rate? Which axis? What is the surface condition? Are there attitude anomalies that suggest structural damage?
Our optical characterisation package provides the answers that no two-line element can give you.
Request ADR characterisation quoteStandard formats. Immediate delivery.
TDM · Angular Observations
CCSDS 503.0 Tracking Data Messages with right ascension, declination, epoch, and timing. GPS-disciplined <1 ms accuracy.
Light Curve Package
Calibrated time series in BVRi bandpasses. Lomb-Scargle periodogram, best-fit rotation model, and characterisation report.
Decay Monitoring Report
Multi-night observation arc, along-track and cross-track residuals, B* drag term estimate, and re-entry window confidence interval.
Fragment Population Report
Post-fragmentation survey: detected fragment positions, estimated orbit family, brightness distribution, and recommended catalogue update targets.
REST Streaming
Real-time delivery to your operations pipeline via authenticated REST or WebSocket endpoint. CCSDS or custom JSON schema.
Historical DataLake
Full observational archive queryable via API. All raw frames retained for independent reprocessing if required.
The orbit needs to be cleaned.
Let's start with knowing what's there.
Whether you're characterising a single high-priority debris object or running a multi-month survey campaign, we can support your programme. NDA signed before any technical discussion.