Scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have created an easy and affordable way to identify satellites from Earth. They use lights to signal an ID code, making tracking easier as space gets busier.
With more satellites launching, there’s a real risk of collisions in orbit. If tracking systems detect a potential issue, they need to know who owns each satellite to alert them. This is where a new technology called the Extremely Low Resource Optical Identifier, or ELROI, comes in handy. It’s a small light that attaches to satellites and blinks a unique ID code, like a space “license plate.”
ELROI is very efficient. It uses minimal power, similar to an LED light, and clever algorithms let it be seen by small telescopes from about 600 miles away. This makes it easier to identify satellites from the ground.
The device can run on a small solar cell and a compact rechargeable battery. This means it can be made as small as a thick postage stamp and attached to satellites without needing extra power sources. David Palmer, the lead scientist on the project, shares, “ELROI is cheap, tiny, self-sufficient, and easy to attach to anything that goes into space.”
During tests in 2024, LANL successfully identified satellites before their operators could. Palmer describes a scenario where eight objects were in space without clear identities. Using ELROI, he determined which satellite was which in just 48 hours.
Space around Earth is getting crowded with all the satellite launches, defunct equipment, and debris from past collisions. For instance, Starlink has launched almost 7,000 satellites, and more companies, like Amazon’s Project Kuiper, are joining the race.
As these objects travel faster than 17,000 miles per hour, avoiding collisions is crucial. A crash could create thousands of pieces of debris, leading to a domino effect that threatens satellite systems we rely on every day.
Currently, organizations like the US Space Force use telescopes and radar to monitor space. They work to notify satellite operators about possible collisions. But without a system to identify them, an orbital satellite is just a dot of light in the sky.
Another concern is that satellites can cause light pollution, which makes it harder for astronomers to study the night sky. It’s essential that ELROI helps mitigate collision risks without creating new problems for astronomical research.
*Fun fact: “El Roi” is a Hebrew phrase meaning “the God who sees me.”
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