Costa Rica unveils radar that tracks space objects from a farm
April 23, 2021
1:59 PM CDT
Costa Rica unveils radar that tracks space objects from a farm
Reuters
2 minutes read
A view of the LeoLabs' Costa Rica Space Radar, an S-band phased-array designed to detect and track small space objects in low Earth orbit, in Filadelfia, Costa Rica April 21, 2021. REUTERS/Mayela Lopez
Surrounded by clear blue skies and fields of sugar cane crops on the Pacific coast, a farm in the northwest of Costa Rica is now home to a giant radar capable of tracking small objects in space that threaten the safety of astronauts and satellites.
Costa Rican President Carlos Alvarado and U.S. and Costa Rican astronauts on Thursday unveiled the four large reflective panels that make up the commercial radar, which is connected to the servers of aerospace company LeoLabs in San Francisco.
"This commercial radar is the most advanced that exists in the world," said Alvarado.
The Costa Rica Space Radar can monitor objects that transit in low Earth orbit near the planet's equator, an advantage offered by the geographical location.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/science/costa-rica-unveils-radar-that-tracks-space-objects-farm-2021-04-23/
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