The UK Space Agency has awarded Raytheon a contract to provide Space Surveillance and Tracking Services Data (SST) from low-Earth orbit (LEO).

Raytheon NORSS wins UK Space Surveillance and Tracking contract

Specifically, Raytheon NORSS – Raytheon’s UK-based space domain awareness specialist- will be using Raytheon’s LOCI (LEO Optical Camera Installation) sensor network to track “Resident Space Objects”.

Such objects include space debris, defence assets and commercial satellites, to better preserve assets in orbit from dangers such as collision or fragmentation events.

The LOCI network will be operated out of multiple locations in the UK, U.S. and Australia.It will provide the UK with a “more comprehensive picture of objects in LEO,” said the company.

“As the number of objects in LEO continues to increase, it’s vital that our customers know what is happening with and around not only their assets, but also in the space environment,” said Sean Goldsbrough, head of Raytheon NORSS.

“Our recent international expansion of LOCI will provide the UK Space Agency and MOD with the high-quality, timely and assured SST data they need.”

In tandem with the space surveillance contract, Raytheon NORSS will be producing a 10-year strategy for the UK Space Agency’s National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC). This is set to open in April 2024 with UK space domain awareness responsibilities.

Space surveillance
Founded in 2017, Raytheon NORSS is based in Harwell, Oxfordshire.

Raytheon UK also has facilities in Broughton, Waddington, Glenrothes, Harlow, Gloucester and Manchester, and across the country it employs 1,700 people.

A major supplier to the U.K. Ministry of Defence, Raytheon UK is part of RTX’s Raytheon business.