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 The Costa Rica radar will be capable of tracking small debris down to 2cm and work in concert with LeoLabs' other radars. / LeoLabs courtesy photo. |
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Published Thursday, July 23, 2020 space radar in Costa Rica By the A.M. Costa Rica staff Silicon Valley- based LeoLabs, Inc., provider of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) mapping and Space Situational Awareness (SSA) services, announced Costa Rica as the site for its next space radar. Low Earth Orbit (LEO) is the focus of commercial and public sector activity in space, and 2020 is emerging as the tipping point for new constellations and increasingly international engagement in space. "We are delighted to be working with an incredible team in Costa Rica, and proud to bring the first commercial phased-array radar to the equatorial region," said Mike Nicolls, LeoLabs Chief Technology Officer and co-founder. "This improves our coverage of equatorial and low inclination orbits, filling a critical gap for tracking satellites and space debris." According to the high technology company, the Costa Rica radar will be capable of tracking small debris down to 2cm and work in concert with LeoLabs' other radars. This announcement also reflects the priorities of the Costa Rican government. "We welcome LeoLabs to Costa Rica," said President, Carlos Alvarado Quesada. "The vision of a LeoLabs space radar in Costa Rica takes our national tradition of environmental responsibility and extends it to space, offering our nation a way to contribute to preserving the LEO ecosystem for generations to come." President Alvarado added: “In addition, this investment builds on an existing set of space achievements by Costa Rica," in human space flight as well as in satellites, and opens up opportunities for our nation in the growing new space sector." The story of LeoLabs' decision to locate its next radar in Costa Rica is also the result of a longstanding relationship between two former NASA astronauts, LeoLabs executive and co-founder, Edward Lu, Ph.D. and Ad Astra CEO and co-founder, Franklin Chang Díaz, Ph.D., both of whom went on to found innovative technology businesses. In the Spring of 2019, Lu reached out to his longtime colleague, Chang Diaz, to discuss the advantages of building a radar in Costa Rica. "From our mutual experience in space, Dr. Lu and I were both excited about the opportunity to address the threat to human spaceflight posed by space debris," Chang Diaz said. "The project in Costa Rica offered us the chance to increase safety of flight in space and enable responsible stewardship to drive our mission of preserving critical ecosystems." As both a new economy and an emerging ecosystem shared globally across governments, space agencies, regulators, commercial satellite operators and insurance, LEO presents an unprecedented opportunity for the new space sector, said the company in its statement. "It also highlights the threat to satellites and astronauts posed by space debris, especially from the estimated 250,000 dangerous objects currently untracked today." Founded in 2016 as a venture-funded spinout of Silicon Valley research pioneer, SRI International, LeoLabs provides access to critical mapping and SSA data for low Earth orbit. ------------------------ What incentives should the government offer to international high-tech companies to develop its operations in the country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com |
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