A groundbreaking project led by scientists from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Calgary is developing an advanced satellite designed to detect space debris as small as a centimeter—an ability currently beyond the reach of ground-based observatories. This initiative, part of a larger U.S. government effort, could significantly enhance space safety and prevent catastrophic satellite collisions.
With thousands of active satellites in low-Earth orbit, space debris poses an increasing risk to global communication, navigation, and scientific research. Objects as small as a centimeter, moving at speeds of up to 28,000 km/h (17,500 mph), can strike with the force of an explosive device, capable of crippling satellites or even triggering dangerous chain reactions of collisions.
Space junk originates from defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from past collisions. While large debris can be tracked and avoided, smaller pieces remain invisible to current monitoring systems, creating a silent but serious threat.
A Satellite Designed to “See” the Unseen
Paul Bernhardt, a research professor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute, is spearheading the development of a new satellite known as the Space Debris Hunter. Unlike existing tracking systems, this satellite will detect small debris using plasma wave disturbances—an innovative method that measures the way space debris interacts with naturally occurring plasma along Earth’s magnetic field lines.
Bernhardt and his team, in collaboration with the University of Calgary, have discovered that tiny objects moving through these plasma striations generate detectable electromagnetic waves. Sensors on the satellite will analyze these waves, measuring electric and magnetic fields to determine an object’s location and trajectory.
A New Frontier in Space Safety
By precisely identifying the movement of space debris, the Space Debris Hunter will provide real-time data that could help satellite operators maneuver their spacecraft out of harm’s way. Currently, networks like Starlink perform over 20,000 debris-avoidance maneuvers per year, underscoring the urgency of better detection systems.
A detailed study outlining this breakthrough was published on January 8 in Physics of Plasmas, with Bengt Eliasson of the University of Strathclyde as the lead author. The research is also part of a collaboration with Blue Halo, a contractor supporting the IARPA Space Debris Identification and Tracking Program.
The U.S. government estimates that more than 100 million objects larger than a millimeter orbit Earth, yet only a fraction of potentially hazardous debris is monitored. Expanding tracking capabilities to include these smaller threats could mark a turning point in orbital security, ensuring the longevity and functionality of vital space infrastructure.
As global reliance on satellite technology grows, the need for innovative debris detection methods becomes more pressing. The Space Debris Hunter represents a major step toward safeguarding low-Earth orbit, and its success could lead to the development of a network of similar detection satellites in the future.
