UB

Students at the University at Buffalo (UB) have been selected by federal agencies to design and build a microsatellite called Spectrometry Observation for Reflectivity Analysis (SORA), for space debris observation.

SORA will be the third satellite to be built by UB students in four years, and will help to identify thousands of pieces of debris or space junk orbiting the Earth.

The researchers also intend to prevent any possible collision between space junk and spacecraft with data obtained from SORA.

The space debris comprises defunct old satellites, spent rocket stages and fragments from disintegration, erosion, and collisions, as well as those caused by the debris itself.

CUBRC space situational awareness professor in UB school of engineering and applied sciences John Crassidis said: "To be selected to build another satellite really shows just how dedicated and talented our students are.

"They are gaining valuable hands-on experience and helping solve a very serious problem that threatens existing and future space missions."

"To be selected to build another satellite really shows just how dedicated and talented our students are."

According to Nasa, more than 20,000 pieces of space junk bigger than a softball are orbiting the Earth at speeds of up to 17,500mph.

They will not enter the Earth’s atmosphere, although National Research Council noted the debris has the ability to hit and damage functioning satellites and other spacecraft.

In the absence of a cost-effective way to clear debris, researchers aim to track objects to avoid potential collisions.

In 2013, UB was selected by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to design and build a microsatellite, called Glint Analysing Data Observation Satellite (GLADOS) to track space debris in high-Earth orbit, located over 22,000m away from the Earth’s surface that contains weather and telecommunication satellites.

In 2014, Nasa asked to build a similar satellite, also called GLADOS, which is scheduled to launch in 2018.

Approximately 100 students will be involved in making SORA, which is expected tobe launched by the Air Force in two to four years.

Image: UB students at work building the microsatellite GLADOS. Photo: courtesy of Douglas Levere, University at Buffalo.