Mission assurance
Low Earth orbit is critical infrastructure. Keeping it usable is a question of both environmental sustainability and operational resilience.
Every launch, breakup, and collision adds to the debris population. Fragments 10 centimeters and smaller are the hardest to track and, by number, the most common. Addressing them is part of keeping orbit viable for the long term.
The Kessler Syndrome describes how collisions can beget collisions, with each impact generating new fragments that raise the odds of the next. Small, untracked debris is an active contributor to that risk.
On-orbit breakups and counterspace activity can multiply small-debris risk to the systems many critical services depend on. Reducing and measuring that debris supports the resilience of the broader orbital environment.
SOAR does not describe, imply, or assert any relationship, endorsement, or contract with any government organization.