Outer space

Navy patents orbital debris sensor

The Navy has been awarded a patent for an orbital debris sensor to protect satellites.
The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL)'s Geospace Science and Technology Branch, received U.S. patent #8976245 for the Optical Orbital Debris Spotter, a " low power, low cost, local space debris detection concept that can be integrated into larger satellite designs, or flown independently on-board nano-satellite platforms," according to an NRL announcement.