NorthStar to be first to monitor space traffic from space

Luxembourg, 28 October 2020. – NorthStar Earth & Space contracted Thales Alenia Space to build the first three satellites of its Skylark constellation for Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services, the Canadian company announced. NorthStar claims to be “the first commercial service to monitor space, from space”, via a constellation of satellites with dedicated optical sensors.

NorthStar wants to deliver timely and precise Space Traffic Data, Collision Avoidance and Navigation Services to the global satellite community.

”The New Space Economy depends on the safety and sustainability of space,” Stewart Bain, CEO and co-founder of NorthStar said.

“NorthStar, the first commercial SSA system based in space, will deliver essential information to space operators, enabling safe navigation and supporting global space traffic management.” NorthStar will begin to operate Skylark in 2022, “elevating traditional SSA to the level of Space Information & Intelligence”. 

The company plans to augment Skylark with dual mission satellites performing both SSA and Earth observation in 2024.