U.S. intelligence wants to track currently undetectable orbital space debris

The U.S. intelligence community — which builds and operates Earth observation and communications satellites for military or intelligence applications — is looking for solutions to the space debris problem.

The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), in a request for information posted Feb. 10, asks for “innovative approaches to detect and track currently undetectable orbital space debris.” Responses are due March 11.

IARPA, an agency under the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, says a key concern for the intelligence community is the danger that tiny pieces of debris — currently not tracked by surveillance sensors — could pose on “our valuable government and commercial space assets.”

“Orbital debris collisions are a significant risk to Earth orbiting spacecraft,” says the RFI. “Even the smallest pieces of debris can cause serious damage.”