Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Tracking the complexity of space (AER203)

Summary

Leo Labs is a company focused on tracking tens of thousands of objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) to ensure space safety.
The space environment is changing rapidly, with an exponential increase in the number of satellites, leading to a more crowded orbit.
Leo Labs uses a vertically integrated technology stack of hardware (phased array radars) and software for space operations, with AWS as the backbone of their computational infrastructure.
They provide services for satellite operations, including collision avoidance, and support about two-thirds of all operational satellites in LEO.
Keon Space is a software company developing tools and autonomy to make space operations safer and more efficient.
Keon Space's products include Pathfinder, a cloud-based software solution for autonomous collision avoidance, and Eagle, a high-performance, high-fidelity propagation engine for simulating object motion in space.
Both companies emphasize the importance of responsible satellite operation, including maneuverability, deorbiting post-mission, and active debris removal.
The speakers advocate for transparency, sharing of maneuver intentions among operators, and collaboration on policy-making to ensure long-term sustainable use of space.

The exponential growth in satellite launches, particularly by commercial entities, is leading to a more crowded and complex space environment.
The shift from government-led to commercially-led space operations has introduced new challenges, such as the need for improved space traffic management and debris tracking.
AWS cloud services are critical for both Leo Labs and Keon Space, enabling real-time data processing, scalability, and resilience, especially during high-demand scenarios like potential collision cascades (Kessler syndrome).
Machine learning is being applied to optimize radar scheduling and improve the efficiency of tracking space objects.
There is a call for industry-wide best practices, including making satellites maneuverable, deorbiting defunct satellites promptly, and actively removing space debris.
Transparency and information sharing among satellite operators are crucial for avoiding collisions and ensuring the safety of space operations.
Technological solutions alone are not sufficient; policy-making and industry collaboration are necessary to address the challenges of an increasingly crowded space environment.