Anduril demonstrated its Anduril-216 satellite equipped with a long-wave infrared sensor capable of tracking other spacecraft during orbital night when they are hidden in Earth's shadow. The demo, funded internally and launched in July via SpaceX, addresses a critical gap in current space traffic monitoring where optical sensors lose track of maneuvers occurring in darkness.
Background
Space situational awareness is increasingly critical as orbital congestion grows and geopolitical tensions drive anti-satellite capabilities. The US Space Force relies on a mix of ground-based radars and optical sensors, but tracking remains limited during periods when satellites pass through Earth's shadow.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Nov 12, 2026 at 04:22 AM
- Score
- 7.0 / 10