The Dunedain Transients project, selected by ESA Phi-Lab Netherlands, aims to improve how we monitor the space environment. Its focus is Space Situational Awareness (SSA)—the tracking and characterization of satellites and debris in orbit. The project approaches this problem through fast imaging. At sufficiently high speeds, light is no longer just a detection signal. It becomes a source of physical information. In the longer term, the project will extend this approach to stellar occultations, which can deliver very high spatial and timing precision.
A major milestone was reached at the beginning of 2026. Ignacio Reyes, CEO of Dunedain Space, spent several weeks in Chile upgrading the observing system. The work combines hardware improvements, software development, and tests of a mobile observing setup. The result was a clear increase in performance: the system now operates at more than 300 frames per second, about 165 times faster than before. Satellites that once appeared as elongated streaks now appear as compact points of light.
This change affects what can be measured. At low frame rates, brightness variations are averaged out; at high frame rates, they become visible. Each frame captures a moment in time, and together they form a light curve. These light curves carry information about a satellite’s rotation, orientation, and surface properties.
Sensitivity has also been enhanced. When combined with fast imaging, this advancement opens the path for detecting CubeSats in low Earth orbit (LEO). These CubeSats, already numerous and expected to increase, are operationally significant but challenging to observe with conventional optical systems. Overall, the system is approaching the capability to detect debris measuring 1 to 10 cm, which poses a significant threat to satellites.
The hardware upgrades include faster cameras and precise GNSS timing. These enable measurements at the millisecond level. In parallel, an observation pipeline has been developed to schedule observations, acquire data, and process it automatically. High-speed photometric datasets have already been collected and used to test detection algorithms. These results show that the approach can complement existing SSA systems.
The project is now approaching its mid-term review. Several objectives have already been met. The observation system is operational, early datasets have been acquired, and demonstrations have been presented to stakeholders, including defense organizations and research partners. These interactions point to a consistent need for more precise and more complete information about objects in orbit. This need is increasing as the number of satellites grows and the orbital environment becomes more complex.
The project is also moving toward a more flexible observing strategy. Tests of a mobile setup suggest that high-performance observations are not limited to fixed installations. Plans include expansion to additional sites, including a second observation station in Spain. The long-term goal is a distributed network of optical sensors capable of continuous monitoring.
Several challenges remain. Hardware performance must be validated under real conditions. Signal-to-noise limits affect the detection of very faint objects. Timing accuracy requires careful calibration. Operating remote observatories introduces logistical constraints. These issues are being addressed through iterative testing and collaboration with partners.
The recent progress marks a clear shift in capability. Observations that once produced blurred streaks now produce resolved points. This change allows the extraction of information that was previously lost. By turning reflected sunlight into a measurable signal, the project opens a path toward more precise and informative observations of the space environment.
Effect of increasing frame rate on the apparent motion of a satellite. From top to bottom: ~2 FPS (12/2025), ~60 FPS (01/2026), and ~330 FPS (02/2026). In each panel, the satellite appears respectively as a long streak, a short streak, and a near point-source, while the other source is a reference star. The orange label indicates the distance travelled by the satellite along its orbit during a single exposure (~3 km, ~100 m, ~10 m). Increasing frame rate reduces motion blur and preserves time-resolved information in the signal.
Dunedain Telescope and night sky in Chile
