{"id":2932379,"date":"2023-10-12T13:20:48","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T17:20:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1016567-4521551.cloudwaysapps.com\/plato-data\/startup-guardiansat-gets-research-grant-for-satellite-self-defense-technology\/"},"modified":"2023-10-12T13:20:48","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T17:20:48","slug":"startup-guardiansat-gets-research-grant-for-satellite-self-defense-technology","status":"publish","type":"station","link":"https:\/\/platodata.io\/plato-data\/startup-guardiansat-gets-research-grant-for-satellite-self-defense-technology\/","title":{"rendered":"Startup GuardianSat gets research grant for satellite self-defense technology"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WASHINGTON \u2014 The startup GuardianSat announced Oct. 12 it won a grant from the National Science Foundation\u2019s America\u2019s Seed Fund to advance the company\u2019s technology designed to protect satellites from collisions with debris objects in space. <\/p>\n

GuardianSat, based in Delaware, won a Small Business Technology Transfer Phase 1 research contract worth about $273,000. In addition the company will get technical support from the Aerospace Corp. America\u2019s Seed Fund<\/a> invests up to $200 million a year in promising startups.<\/p>\n

The company developed a debris-avoidance system for satellites, based on technology patented by one of its founders, Robert Briskman, who is a co-founder of Sirius XM satellite radio. <\/p>\n

\u201cOur patented solution is for high Earth-orbiting satellites,\u201d said Huey Wyche, GuardianSat\u2019s research lead. \u201cIt will include a subsystem to detect orbital debris, track potential collision threats, and autonomously adjust the satellite\u2019s course to prevent accidents.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sensors for object detection<\/strong><\/p>\n

The debris-detection technology \u2014 called the Autonomous Satellite Orbital Debris Avoidance System \u2014 includes satellite control systems, sensor and tracking systems, and interfaces that cooperate with thruster and communication subsystems on a satellite, Wyche said. It is also designed to aid a satellite\u2019s return to its original position after it maneuvers to avoid debris, and to share object data with other satellites to improve space domain awareness.   <\/p>\n

The NSF grant \u201cwill enable us to advance the development of our space domain awareness and avoidance systems,\u201d said GuardianSat\u2019s CEO Christopher Rohe. \u201cWe are excited to take the next steps in and continue advancing new and transformative solutions to keep space open.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rohe and Briskman founded GuardianSat in 2020. <\/p>\n

Wyche said GuardianSat is taking a \u201cmulti-spectral approach to sensing orbital objects.\u201d Multi-spectral sensors can differentiate between various types of objects based on their spectral signatures. \u201cThis capability is valuable for distinguishing between active satellites, defunct spacecraft, and space debris,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n

The debris-avoidance system, Wyche added, is a companion technology to GuardianSat\u2019s \u201canti-satellite countermeasure system<\/a>\u201d that is also in development. It uses microwave and lidar (light detection and ranging) to detect and track<\/a> approaching objects. <\/p>\n