Space debris has become one of the biggest challenges for space agencies and satellite operators. Thousands of fragments orbit Earth, left behind by collisions, missile tests, and malfunctioning spacecraft.
Even tiny shards travel at extreme speeds and can puncture satellites or damage instruments.
With more companies launching satellites every year, the risk continues to grow.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has responded to that threat with a new micrometeoroid and orbital debris (MMOD) detection and characterization system.
The device has been designed, built, and tested to spot debris strikes on satellites and spacecraft. It provides post-impact data that can reveal collisions even when visible damage does not appear.
Rising threat from space junk
Depending on where it orbits, debris can remain in space for decades. Larger objects are tracked from the ground, but millions of smaller particles go unseen.
These fragments still pose serious risks, especially to spacecraft operating in low-Earth orbit.
The SwRI system offers a potential way forward. It can be mounted as an external panel or integrated into spacecraft design.
The unit combines a structural element with sensors that record impact events. Software then analyzes this information to determine the particle’s size, speed, and composition.
“Most spacecraft survive minor impacts without systems breaking or operators on Earth knowing,” said SwRI Institute Scientist Dr. Sidney Chocron, who led development of the MMOD detection and characterization system. “Our device is designed to send data back to Earth with important insights before any damage is apparent, which can also influence future design decisions.”
To demonstrate the system, researchers used SwRI’s light gas gun. This tool can simulate the harsh conditions of space by firing small projectiles at very high velocities inside a vacuum chamber.
Panels equipped with the detection system were then placed under fire to mimic real orbital collisions.
“While not every aspect of the space environment can be replicated, our tests create realistic particle impacts,” Chocron said. He noted that these tests both validate the detection device and help evaluate spacecraft resilience.
The system successfully detected when and where impacts occurred and identified debris speed and composition.
The study marks the first successful large-scale test of the system. SwRI now aims to secure funding for a space-ready version that can be deployed on operational missions.
Southwest Research Institute tested its micrometeoroid and orbital debris detection system by striking a sensor-equipped spacecraft panel with debris fired from a light gas gun to simulate orbital impacts. Credit – SwRI
Mapping debris for safer missions
The technology could also serve as part of an early-warning chain. If one satellite detects a strike, it could pass that information to others nearby. This data may allow satellites to maneuver out of danger and reduce the risk of cascading collisions.
“These data could also help NASA and the industry develop more resilient future spacecraft,” Chocron said.
SwRI plans to expand testing and hopes to use the system to build a clearer picture of the orbital environment.
“Ultimately, our primary goal is to map and characterize the MMOD debris field around Earth to better protect future missions,” Chocron said. “Our MMOD detection and characterization system is a step toward better understanding and mitigating those risks.”
The study is published in the journal 2024 17th Hypervelocity Impact Symposium.