The problem of space debris “represents a time bomb, which the fall of the ‘Heavenly Palace’ (the Chinese space station, editor’s note) has just highlighted”, stresses the Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) in Neuchâtel. CSEM is thus joining Remove DEBRIS, a European clean-up project launched under the FP7 programme, which brings together ten partners in all. CSEM has developed a LIDAR (laser system) for obtaining 3D images, as well as a colour camera. A vision system developed in partnership with Airbus and the National Institute for Research in Computer Science and Automation (INRIA). The system was placed on board the debris-hunting satellite launched by SpaceX from Cape Canaveral on Monday 2 April. It will combine imaging, optics and laser in order to obtain the best image and the distance of the object. For CSEM, the aim is to establish itself in a rapidly expanding market.
