EOS Wins US Government Space Contracts

Electro Optic Systems Pty Limited’s US subsidiary, EOS Defense Systems USA, Inc. has been awarded two contracts by the US government’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Office of Space Commerce. The first will provide commercial satellite laser ranging (SLR) data for NOAA’s Open Architecture Data Repository, with the second contract providing passive electro-optical observations.

In order to respond to the ever-increasing number of space objects orbiting the Earth, NOAA aims to advance space traffic management and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities and is establishing an Open Architecture SSA Repository to conduct pilot studies, prototypes and experiments to fulfill its obligations under the Space Policy Directive-3, enacted in June 2018. These efforts will facilitate the safe operation of space-based vehicles.

The EOSDS USA team, based in Huntsville, Alabama, will be supported by EOS Space Systems providing services from its Australian ground-based space-tracking infrastructure and observation facilities at Mt Stromlo, ACT and Learmonth, WA.

Over the past three years EOS has made significant contributions to the US-led Sprint Advanced Concept Training (SACT) exercises, responding in real-time alongside international participants to a variety of simulated and actual space events. The exercises are the premier showcase and “sandbox” for the global space industry’s new and emerging technologies. Most recently EOS showed its proficiency in SSA (also known as Space Domain Awareness, SDA), supplying SACT Operations with high-fidelity, near-time image, tracking and light curve data for the entire event. They also recorded and analysed a number of live rendezvous and proximity operation incidents between orbiting objects that occurred during the exercises – an exciting and unexpected development.

“After decades of being a global leader in Space Situational Awareness, we’re proud to bring this exceptional technology to the US,” said retired Brig. Gen. Phil Coker, CEO of EOSDS USA.“EOSDS USA is pleased to offer this capability to NOAA to advance US Space Domain Awareness capabilities and ultimately help protect future space missions.”

EOS is continuing to expand its commercial data services. Offering accurate daytime and night-time surveillance from LEO through to xGEO, EOS provides tracking of the small, dim and far. EOS offers high-accuracy laser ranging to satellites and debris and provides actionable information to satellite operators.