Australia tests domestic optical telescope for space domain awareness

Tarik Errabih, UNSW Space Surveillance Operations Manager, and Flying Officer Jack Jones from the ADF's Space and Cyber Capability Division inspect the UNSW Viper optical telescope. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is collaborating with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to evaluate the use of ground-based optical sensors to enhance space domain awareness (SDA).

As part of the initiative, the ADF is testing the Viper telescope, developed by UNSW Canberra Space, to monitor activity in Earth orbit, the Department of Defence (DoD) said in late August.

A key objective of the project is to assess how the ADF can directly task and control a space surveillance sensor. “While many space-tracking services rely on commercially provided data, the ability to directly request observations and collect information will provide valuable insights into how priority objects can be monitored in support of integrated force requirements,” the DoD added.

The ADF is also examining the use of automation in sensor tasking and data analysis. The DoD said greater automation could accelerate information collection by improving sensor availability and responsiveness, enabling assets to be rapidly retasked as operational priorities change.

The DoD added that the project is supporting the assessment of operational and sustainment requirements for networks of sensors that monitor objects in Earth orbit, including those that could pose risks to other space users.

Growing congestion in the space domain and the increasing dependence of modern military operations on space-based services have heightened the importance of monitoring satellites and space debris that could affect the reliability and availability of those services, the DoD said.