Australia-based Electro Optic Systems (EOS) has unveiled its Atlas Space Control platform, developed to counter growing threats to satellites in orbit and contribute to Space Situational Awareness (SDA). This new product family, consisting of ground-based high-energy laser systems, offers allied forces the promise of ensuring operational freedom in orbit through its ability to be deployed on a global scale.
Atlas: Scalable Capability from Deterrence to Active Engagement
The Atlas platform is built on EOS’s 40 years of experience in space technology. Available in fixed, mobile, and portable configurations, the system can be scaled according to mission requirements. Its core capabilities include:
Real-Time Tracking: Incorporating world-leading telescope and dome designs, it has the capability to detect, track, and characterize objects in orbit in real time.
Scalable Impact: It offers scalable power levels, enabling operators to adjust the level of impact from deterrence to active engagement.
Integration: It enhances intelligence and decision-making processes by integrating with space dominance and multi-domain joint operations.
EOS CEO Dr. Andreas Schwer noted that space has become a contested operational domain and that satellites enabling civilian life are at risk, stating, “Atlas is designed to protect these assets by providing operators with scalable and deployable options for deterrence and space control,” he said.
Laser Maneuvering Capability: Solutions for Collision Risk and Space Debris
EOS plays a leading role not only in observation and tracking but also in solutions for intervening with objects in space. Dr. James Bennett, Vice President of EOS Space Systems, noted that the company is a high-precision SDA expert in observing and tracking objects, including satellites and space debris. Thanks to EOS’s laser and infrared technologies, daytime tracking is possible in ways that many organizations cannot achieve.
Bennett explained that one of the most innovative solutions EOS is working on involves systems that use the photon pressure of high-energy lasers to push objects in space. This approach offers two key benefits:
Collision Avoidance: Generating sufficient movement to move objects away from the risk of collision.
Controlled Re-entry: Ensuring objects re-enter the atmosphere in a controlled manner by altering their speeds (de-orbiting).
Dr. Bennett emphasized that this method is cost-effective and that the key enabler of laser maneuvering capability is the accuracy of orbital path prediction. Thanks to EOS’s highly precise laser tracking, the goal of performing repeated engagements to de-orbit an object will be achieved as the technology scales up. This represents a significant advantage because it enables remote intervention for objects that lack maneuvering capabilities.
