Electro Optic Systems (ASX:EOS) - Group CEO, Dr Ben Greene
Group CEO, Dr Ben Greene
Source: Keating Media
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  • Electro Optic System (EOS) has revealed its latest developments in laser technology, which could be used in the fight against mounting debris in space
  • The Guide Star Laser channels high-speed adaptive optics to form laser beams to track and shift debris at lower altitudes and faster speeds than previously possible
  • The Australian space and defence company developed the laser in collaboration with the Space Environment Research Centre, which includes participants from Australia, Japan and the U.S.
  • EOS will commercialise the technology, which will also have application in high bandwidth satellite communications, and will retain the intellectual property
  • Shares last traded at $5.38

Electro Optic System (EOS) has revealed its latest developments in laser technology, which could be used in the fight against mounting debris in space.

The Guide Star Laser channels high-speed adaptive optics to form laser beams to track and shift debris at lower altitudes and faster speeds than previously possible.

It is estimated around US$700 billion (around A$915 billion) of infrastructure delivers essential services from space, yet this infrastructure is at risk of serious damage from debris travelling at more than eight kilometres per second.

According to the latest figures from the European Space Agency, there are more than 28,000 debris objects tracked by space surveillance networks, totalling more than 9200 tonnes of objects in Earth’s orbit.

Speaking in Canberra, the home to the EOS Space Research Facility at the Mount Stromlo Observatory, Group CEO Dr Ben Greene spoke on the importance of tackling the issue of rubbish in space.

“Space debris is a major societal threat, globally but especially in Australia due to our heavy economic dependence on space assets. For decades EOS has been a world leader in the tracking and classification of space debris.”

“Our accurate, dynamic database of space objects is the key pre-requisite for the active manipulation of those space objects from the ground using lasers, but this capability has long been out of reach, requiring major advances in technology.”

The Guide Star Laser was developed by EOS, an Australian space and defence company, in collaboration with the Space Environment Research Centre.

The centre was equally funded by EOS, the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centre and participants from Australia, Japan and the U.S. — including scientists, The Australian National University and RMIT.

“EOS progressively researched and developed the required technologies until, in 2014, we initiated an international collaboration to accelerate the final stages. This research has recently concluded as planned and expected, and the remote manipulation of suitable objects in space can now be undertaken,” explained Dr Greene.

“EOS already makes a major contribution to mitigation of the space debris threat through our accurate space debris tracking, but after international coordination we expect to make a further contribution by actively moving hazardous debris from impact trajectories,” he added.

EOS will commercialise the technology, which will also have application in high-bandwidth satellite communications, and will retain the intellectual property.

Shares last traded at $5.38.

EOS by the numbers
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