New NASA-funded Lunar Sensor to Track Spacecraft and Debris Around the Moon

Our Bureau - : Dec 3, 2025 - : 2:15 am

US aerospace company Astrobotic has been selected by NASA for a new technology project that could change the way we monitor activity around the Moon. The company has received a Phase-I award under NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme...

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US aerospace company Astrobotic has been selected by NASA for a new technology project that could change the way we monitor activity around the Moon.

The company has received a Phase-I award under NASA’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programme to build Clavius-S, a camera-based sensor that can spot and track spacecraft flying in low lunar orbit.

The project comes at a time when lunar space is becoming busier than ever. Governments and private companies are planning missions to the Moon for exploration, mining, communications and power generation. That growing crowd of spacecraft also creates the risk of collisions and debris, similar to the situation in Earth orbit.

What the New Sensor Will Do

Clavius-S is a small telescope-style camera that will sit on lunar landers or on power stations that Astrobotic plans to build on the Moon’s surface. Instead of tracking spacecraft from Earth, the sensor will monitor them from the lunar surface, which allows a much clearer view.

According to Astrobotic, the sensor can detect and identify spacecraft in orbit above the Moon, track their movement in real time, and help mission operators understand the risk of collisions.

Because the sensor sits on the Moon and not in space, it avoids many problems faced by satellites such as bright sunlight or interference from Earth. The sensor is designed to spot objects up to 1,000 km above the lunar surface, including dormant spacecraft or debris that does not transmit signals.

Why NASA Wants the Technology

With many missions now heading to the Moon, including commercial landers, international probes and communications satellites, the space around the Moon is becoming more crowded. But tracking objects from Earth is difficult because of the distance and glare reflected from the Moon.

NASA believes surface-based sensors could be a more reliable solution for space safety around the Moon, helping avoid accidents and protect critical missions.

What Astrobotic Says

Dr. Andrew Horchler, Chief Research Scientist at Astrobotic, said the new sensor will help operators better understand what is flying above the lunar surface.

“As more spacecraft travel to the Moon, we need tools that help operators understand what is in orbit, where it is moving, and whether it is a threat to critical missions,” he said.
Clavius-S uses high-speed onboard computing and computer-vision algorithms to identify fast-moving objects against the backdrop of space. The project builds on more than 10 years of Astrobotic’s work in navigation and space-situational-awareness systems.

From Single Sensor to a Lunar Network

Astrobotic plans to install multiple Clavius-S sensors across the lunar surface in the coming years, forming a network that would allow continuous monitoring. The company calls this a “space-situational-awareness service” that could be used by both government and commercial players.

Astrobotic is also developing an orbital version of the system, called Clavius, that could work from lunar orbit, Earth orbit or in deep space. The company hopes this family of sensors will become part of a larger effort to build safer, more sustainable operations around the Moon as humanity prepares for a permanent presence there.

Space / Nasa / Astrobotic / Moon /

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