Sandia National Laboratories Uses Automated Observatory to Track Satellites

Sandia National Laboratories observatory tracks 45,000 orbital objects

NASA figures show that more than 45,000 human-made objects orbited the planet as of 2024, driven by the deployment of massive satellite constellations. Schnibben noted that his interest in space started when he was a child. My entire life, I’ve had an interest in space.

The Tech TL;DR:

• SOHBRIT runs entirely on commercial off-the-shelf components and custom automation software.
• The facility images about 80 satellites per clear night without requiring a human operator on-site.
• The collected optical data supports collision-risk assessment and the testing of machine learning detection algorithms.

Commercial off-the-shelf technology powers nightly satellite imaging

Built primarily with commercial off-the-shelf products, the SOHBRIT facility aims to maintain a low-cost profile while using automation to remove the need for continuous on-site human operation. The intent was to put together a system that’s relatively low-cost and build some automation software around it so that you don’t need a person out there to operate the observatory, Schnibben said. Schnibben sets observation schedules from his desk, allowing the system to execute data collection autonomously through the night and deliver a fresh dataset the following morning. On a typical clear night, the 3.7-meter-wide observatory captures imagery of approximately 80 individual satellites traveling at high orbital speeds.

This automated data collection feeds directly into testing protocols for Sandia’s Space Mission Program. Employees use the collective imagery to run experiments on detection algorithms and machine learning models, pushing the operational limits of optical hardware systems. It may lead to a new technique where they can push the limits of what the optical systems can do, Schnibben said.

Rapidly expanding orbital congestion raises collision hazards

The proliferation of space hardware stems from accessibility, as university students and smaller groups now regularly build payloads and launch them into orbit for communication, imagery, and academic projects. Space is becoming more readily accessible for different groups of people, Schnibben said. Groups like university students can build a small payload and have that payload launched and put up into space. Schnibben noted that tracking these assets remains critical because unmonitored spacecraft could inadvertently approach one another and trigger catastrophic high-speed collisions. If we don’t keep track of them, then satellites could inadvertently come close to each other and potentially run into each other, Schnibben said. Satellites travel very fast. So, a collision at the speeds you expect satellites to be at could be a very catastrophic collision.

Beyond tracking collision trajectories, the imagery helps verify whether specific satellites have altered their positions or operational parameters. This tracking mission serves both military oversight and laboratory research goals, reinforcing the infrastructure needed as low Earth orbit grows increasingly crowded.

Disclaimer: The technical analyses and security protocols detailed in this article are for informational purposes only.