Anduril Industries has successfully demonstrated a new space-based infrared monitoring system aboard its Anduril-216 satellite. Launched in July via a SpaceX mission, the satellite operates in low Earth orbit at an altitude of approximately 590 kilometers. The craft, roughly the size of an oven, was developed using the company's own funding.
The core technology utilizes long-wave infrared sensors to detect heat radiation from other spacecraft. This capability allows the system to track objects in Earth's shadow, where traditional visible-light sensors often fail. The satellite also features an onboard mission computing module for real-time data processing and a dynamic power module for flexible payload management.
Anduril-216 uses a satellite platform provided by the startup Apex Space, as Anduril does not intend to manufacture its own satellite hardware. The company currently employs over 350 staff in its space division and previously acquired ExoAnalytic Solutions to bolster its space situational awareness capabilities.
The company's current business model focuses on providing space monitoring data to the U.S. military rather than selling individual hardware components. While the technology has proven functional in orbit, Anduril has not yet released comprehensive data regarding its tracking precision for complex military surveillance missions.
