TransAstra using sutter technology for space-based matched filter tracking

TransAstra using sutter technology for space-based matched filter tracking
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 08, 2024

TransAstra, a leader in space technology, has successfully used its proprietary Theia tracking software in space for the first time. This marks a major advancement in Space Domain Awareness (SDA) by achieving the first-ever synthetic tracking or matched filter detection from a space-based telescope. Theia's use directly in space, rather than solely on the ground, significantly boosts detection capabilities of existing orbital assets and opens new possibilities for the future of space observation.

Collaborating with Terran Orbital, TransAstra integrated Theia onto the GEOStare 2 cubesat, launched to Low Earth Orbit (LEO) in 2021. After being uploaded to GEOStare's onboard system, Theia autonomously detected SDA targets in near real-time following image collection. Both the raw images and tracking data were then sent to Earth for further analysis.

Key achievements include:

- Detection of nearly all visible GEO spacecraft in captured images, with minimal false negatives.

- Identification of otherwise undetectable objects using TransAstra's efficient "shift-and-add" track-before-detect software.

- Successful detection of objects below single image noise thresholds, improving tracking beyond traditional methods.

- Proof of software enhancing hardware performance on aging or low-power spacecraft systems.

Theia demonstrated its adaptability to real-world conditions and optimized onboard resources, highlighting the potential for future onboard image processing in space. This breakthrough illustrates how TransAstra's patented approach, using far less computing power, can unlock new capabilities in processing massive image data from optical systems.

Joel Sercel, TransAstra's CEO, stated, "Our Sutter technology offers unparalleled space situational awareness. By extending the capabilities of GEOStare 2, Theia has proven its value in delivering advanced tracking on affordable, existing satellites. This breakthrough is significant not only for SDA but also for planetary defense and asteroid mining. We are entering a new era in space situational awareness."

TransAstra's Sutter technology, initially developed for detecting near-Earth asteroids, remains vital for planetary defense and future asteroid mining missions. The company continues to push technological boundaries to foster sustainable space exploration and development.

CAPTION TransAstra's Revolutionary Software Enables Enhanced Object Detection In Near Real Time on Flight Computers