AstroClear Autonomous Orbital Debris Engagement Stack
A ground-to-orbit operational architecture for autonomous detection, targeting, and laser-induced trajectory modification of resident space objects in Low Earth Orbit.
1. Space Domain Awareness & Target Prioritization
  • Ingests external space domain awareness data from LeoLabs and global debris catalog.
  • ML-assisted models analyze debris objects to generate a prioritized engagement catalog.
  • Uses the AstroClear Debris Risk Index (DRI) for prioritization.
  • Target scoring considers orbital altitude, predicted lifetime, collision probability, and proximity to operational spacecraft.
  • Generates predicted engagement opportunities for the next 12–24 hours of orbital passes.
2. Target Catalog Uplink & Engagement Queue
  • Prioritized target catalog and orbital vectors are transmitted to the AstroClear satellite in Low Earth Orbit.
  • The spacecraft stores this catalog onboard.
  • Continuously evaluates upcoming intercept opportunities.
  • The Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS) maneuvers the satellite to align with predicted engagement geometries.
  • Maintains precision pointing within the spacecraft's maneuver envelope.
3. Optical Acquisition & Target Lock
  • The nLight targeting optical system acquires debris objects using passive and active optical tracking sensors.
  • Establishes a high-precision line-of-sight lock.
  • Continuously refines the target's relative position using real-time angular tracking.
  • Tracking data is fused with predicted orbital vectors.
  • Achieves microradian-level pointing accuracy required for laser engagement.
4. Autonomous Engagement Readiness Evaluation
  • AstroClear's onboard decision logic executes a rapid readiness evaluation before firing.
  • Verifies spacecraft health and engagement safety conditions.
  • Checks ADCS pointing stability, jitter limits, power/capacitor charge state, and thermal margins.
  • Ensures target geometry is within the approved engagement corridor.
  • Verifies the engagement corridor against active satellite ephemeris data to ensure no operational spacecraft or protected assets intersect the firing path.
  • A dynamic risk matrix determines if all mission constraints are satisfied for safe engagement.
5. Laser Engagement & Momentum Transfer
  • Upon authorization, the nLight pulsed fiber laser payload initiates the firing sequence.
  • Operates at approximately 100 W class optical output.
  • Features tunable pulse repetition rates near 100 kHz.
  • The flight-hardened laser payload maintains a compact SWaP profile of less than 20 liters and less than 20 kilograms.
  • Laser pulses induce localized surface ablation on debris, producing a small momentum impulse to nudge it toward orbital decay.
6. Engagement Verification & Telemetry Return
  • Post-engagement, the optical targeting system measures debris' post-interaction geometry.
  • Estimates the resulting change in trajectory.
  • Engagement data (updated orbital vectors, impulse estimation) are logged by the onboard telemetry system.
  • Data is transmitted to the ground operations center.
  • Information is incorporated into the global debris catalog and used to refine future targeting predictions.