Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has today been awarded an Australian Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator Contract, winning one of only five contracts out of 119 submissions. The contract, valued at around $3 Million, will demonstrate EOS's optical Space Tracking technology, including performance, reliability, cost effectiveness and integration with radar based sensors.
Canberra based EOS has also seen success in the recent Australian Space Research Program, where they have been involved in 3 different projects. These projects have included the "Grace Follow on Mission", led by the Australian National University, the "Platform Technologies for Space, Atmosphere and Climate" led by RMIT, and most importantly the "Automated Laser Tracking of Space Debris" which is led by EOS themselves, and has received $4 million in ASRP grant funding.
Building on 20 years of technolgy development at EOS, and supported by the ASRP funding, the CTD program will test the EOS optical debris tracking technology in real-time with existing space surveillance radars. The optical technology is able to detect space objects, both satellites and debris to a very high precision - potentially down to one metre, allowing much more precise tracking and collision avoidance.
Perhaps most importantly, the optical tracking technology would be ideal to be used in parallel with the proposed U.S. Space Fence Radar that is likely to be built at the Harold E Holt Naval communications station in Exmouth, Western Australia. There may even be the potential to export this technology to the other U.S. Space Fence facilities.
This is a wonderful example of Australian technology, being supported through small amounts of Australian government funding at critical times - both civilian and defence, to allow cutting edge technology to be developed and brought to the market.
Well done to the team at EOS - I hope the CTD program goes well, and allows you to continue to demonstrate the world leading technology that you have developed.
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