CANBERRA, Australia,
Dec. 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed
Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd (ASX: EOS)
have broken ground on a new space object tracking facility in
Australia that aims to provide
commercial and government customers an unprecedented view of
orbital space debris fields.
It is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of debris
objects in orbit, ranging from spent rocket parts to pieces of
defunct satellites. These objects pose a major threat to satellites
in orbit that power everything from smartphones and weather
prediction to national security and global financial markets. The
new space object tracking site will give satellite operators a
clearer picture of the debris that could damage their networks, and
how they can avoid potential collisions.
"The expansion of space debris tracking by EOS and Lockheed
Martin is expected to make a significant contribution to the
preservation of the space environment, by providing data which will
enable cost-effective debris manoeuvre for satellites," said
Mark Valerio, Lockheed Martin vice
president and general manager of Military Space. "The accuracy of
our optical sensor network, combined with an ability to reschedule
tracking operations according to commercial priorities, will
provide a trusted source of critical space data to commercial and
government operators."
The network developed by EOS and Lockheed Martin, called Optical
Space Services (OSSTM), was formed in August 2014.
Electro optical systems like OSSTM serve as a complement
to radar-based systems like the U.S. Air Force's Space Fence, which
will sweep the sky tracking 200,000 objects.
"The strategic collaboration with Lockheed Martin has allowed a
critical mass of sensors, data and services to be assembled,
enabling OSSTM to deliver the suite of asset protection
services requested by customers," said Dr. Ben Greene, EOS Chief Executive Officer. "This
new tracking capacity will provide unique data which is exclusively
available to EOS and Lockheed Martin, enabling each organisation to
offer both data and services to meet global market needs. Based on
current contracts and active negotiations, EOS expects to commence
the delivery of data and services by late 2016."
Sensors, lasers and optic systems will be fused together by
software enabling OSSTM to hone-in on, characterise and
track human-made objects orbiting the depths of space. That data
will then be quickly and accurately delivered to customers allowing
them to manoeuvre satellites and prevent collisions. The system can
also predict the paths of debris, giving operators advance warning
of potential collisions.
For additional information, visit our website:
www.lockheedmartin.com
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of
Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services.
About Electro Optic Systems
EOS is based in
Canberra, Australia and employs
100 staff in two sectors: Space Systems and Defense Systems. The
EOS Space Systems sector focuses on both commercial and defense
requirements for space information. EOS specializes in obtaining
space information based on the use of EOS-developed optical
instruments and sensors to detect, track, classify and characterize
objects in space. This information is required for both military
and commercial space applications, and particularly for managing
space assets to avoid collisions in space with space debris.
Media Contact:
US: Mikel Savides,
+1 408-742-5605; mikel.savides@lmco.com
Australia: Michelle Scully, + 61 448 032 387;
michelle.m.scully@lmco.com
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin