Private satellite tracking companies track both China’s and the Pentagon’s X-37Bs
Two different commercial satellite tracking companies, LeoLabs and ExoAnalytics, are using their global network of radars and telescopes to track the movements of China’s X-37B mini-shuttle, dubbed Shenlong (“Divine Dragon” in English), as well as the Pentagon’s own X-37B, both of which launched recently.
LeoLabs activated its new radar system in Western Australia early last year. It’s now part of a 10-radar global network tracking the trajectories of satellites and debris so commercial operators can safely navigate the increasingly congested orbits. “We can see what’s happening in Low Earth Orbit because that’s where radar is dominant,” he explains. “But activity in higher orbits can be tracked with specialised optical telescopes. ExoAnalytics, a US commercial company, has 400 of these deployed worldwide, with 11 sites in Australia.”
LeoLabs’ radars are tracking Shenlong in its low Earth orbit. Since the U.S. X-37B is in a higher orbit, it is being monitored by ExoAnalytics.
Both these companies now provide satellite tracking services that were once the sole domain of the U.S. military. Not only does the military buy their information, so do private concerns in the U.S., since their networks track everything, not simply the two X-37Bs. Those unique craft however make for good press copy, and thus help both to sell their services to the world.
Note too that this is the first time I have seen a name attached to China’s X-37B. Previous reports never gave it a name.
Two different commercial satellite tracking companies, LeoLabs and ExoAnalytics, are using their global network of radars and telescopes to track the movements of China’s X-37B mini-shuttle, dubbed Shenlong (“Divine Dragon” in English), as well as the Pentagon’s own X-37B, both of which launched recently.
LeoLabs activated its new radar system in Western Australia early last year. It’s now part of a 10-radar global network tracking the trajectories of satellites and debris so commercial operators can safely navigate the increasingly congested orbits. “We can see what’s happening in Low Earth Orbit because that’s where radar is dominant,” he explains. “But activity in higher orbits can be tracked with specialised optical telescopes. ExoAnalytics, a US commercial company, has 400 of these deployed worldwide, with 11 sites in Australia.”
LeoLabs’ radars are tracking Shenlong in its low Earth orbit. Since the U.S. X-37B is in a higher orbit, it is being monitored by ExoAnalytics.
Both these companies now provide satellite tracking services that were once the sole domain of the U.S. military. Not only does the military buy their information, so do private concerns in the U.S., since their networks track everything, not simply the two X-37Bs. Those unique craft however make for good press copy, and thus help both to sell their services to the world.
Note too that this is the first time I have seen a name attached to China’s X-37B. Previous reports never gave it a name.