Neuraspace expands satellite tracking with second optical telescope in Chile

Neuraspace expands satellite tracking with second optical telescope in Chile
by Hugo Ritmico
Madrid, Spain (SPX) Dec 13, 2024

Portuguese aerospace firm Neuraspace, a leading player in Space Traffic Management (STM), has activated its second optical telescope, now operational in Chile. This addition provides southern hemisphere coverage, complementing its first telescope located at Portugal's Beja air base. Together, these installations enable comprehensive global satellite tracking through Neuraspace's own systems, augmented by partner network data.

The two telescopes, engineered for advanced astrometric and photometric tracking, achieve an image acquisition rate of over one image per second and can monitor objects as small as 10 cm in diameter. These capabilities minimize positional error margins to under 100 meters per orbital revolution, aligning with the European Space Agency's Space Debris Mitigation Requirements set in 2023.

Both systems feature horizon-to-horizon agility, allowing rapid target shifts across multiple orbits. This versatility supports collision avoidance, debris tracking, launch and early orbit phase operations (LEOP), and pattern-of-life analysis. Located in a region known for clear skies, the Chile-based telescope is anticipated to surpass the productivity of the Beja unit, which delivered over 300,000 space object measurements within its first three months.

Neuraspace leverages its STM Platform, integrating AI and machine learning, to offer precise and timely services such as conjunction monitoring and collision avoidance. Serving over 400 satellites, the addition of the second telescope is set to enhance the platform's accuracy and scalability, improving operational safety and efficiency for space assets.

Chiara Manfletti, CEO of Neuraspace, emphasized the importance of this development: "This investment consolidates Neuraspace as a global leader in space traffic management. We already excel at creating value from data with AI. Now we're also getting the best possible data with our strategy of fusing data from different sources with our own. With this expansion of our infrastructure, we are redefining the standards of safety and efficiency in space operations worldwide."

The telescopes are also part of the AI Fights Space Debris project, a consortium led by Neuraspace. Supported by partners including Instituto Pedro Nunes, GMVIS Skysoft, and multiple universities, the initiative aims to improve orbital safety and sustainability. Funded through the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the project is part of a broader 25 million euro investment.