Raphael Thys
ODIN Space has developed a way to map space debris smaller than a centimetre
A company is working on a way of mapping the tiny bits of debris whizzing around the earth’s orbit. The system, being designed by ODIN Space, could save the space industry billions each year by preventing so-called ‘space bullets’ tearing satellites apart.
The company is the latest to benefit from the technical expertise and facilities at Space Park Leicester and has developed a way to map space debris smaller than a centimetre in length – making it the first business to provide data on sub-centimetre debris to satellite operators.
Dr James New, CEO and co-founder of ODIN Space – Odin stands for Orbital Debris Impact Network – said almost invisible debris the size of a grain of sand has the same energy as a bullet and can destroy a satellite instantly. Until now no technology has been able to mitigate this threat.
Its network of sensors can be hosted on third-party satellites, constantly sampling space junk – counting how much debris is in orbit, and its size, speed and trajectory and enabling them to be dodged.
Debris collisions are forecast to cost the industry $2 billion annually by 2030. Pieces bigger than 10cm can already be tracked and can be avoided, and there are plans to track debris as small as 1cm. But some 99 per cent of debris is so small that it is invisible to existing tracking technology, making sub-centimetre debris the single greatest threat to satellites. ODIN Space was founded to fill that critical gap in the space debris ecosystem.
It has become the latest organisation to join a programme run by the European Space Agency’s Business Incubation Centre for the United Kingdom (ESA BIC UK) at Space Park Leicester.
It is providing financial support and expertise to accelerate the development of ODIN’s technology and commercial offering.
During the incubation period, ODIN aims to launch its first IOD (In-Orbit Demonstration) and launch the first-generation sensors in its network.
Dr New said: “ESA BIC brings unique technical and expert support that will accelerate the important work we’re doing at ODIN Space.
“We chose to join Space Park Leicester as they’re at the forefront of space technology in the UK, with a host of state-of-the-art facilities and technical expertise on-site.”
In September, Kita, the carbon insurer for the climate crisis, became the third company to join ESA BIC UK programme at the £100 million space research hub, which is led by the University of Leicester, in partnership with Leicester City Council and the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP).
Since 2010, more than 100 start-ups have joined the ESA BIC programme, which operates at four different locations across the UK.
William Wells, Director of ESA BIC UK at Leicester, said: “We are proud to be supporting pioneering companies such as ODIN Space through the ESA BIC programme.
“ODIN Space has identified a real niche and with their expertise and technology, the company has the potential be a genuine game-changer in the space industry.”