A new technology developed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) aims to identify satellites in space using a simple and cheap system. The Extremely Low Resource Optical Identifier (ELROI) is a small light that can be attached to any satellite and blinks out a unique identification code, making it easier for tracking services to know who owns a particular satellite.
The problem of overcrowded Earth orbit has become increasingly pressing, with many satellites launched every year. However, even if tracking services can detect potential collisions, they need to know who the owner of a specific satellite is to warn them to take action. ELROI solves this issue by providing a unique identifier for each satellite, allowing tracking services to pinpoint the ownership and notify the relevant parties.
The device is small, low-power, and can be powered by a rechargeable battery, making it suitable for attachment to satellites. It was tested on two launches in 2024 and showed promising results, with scientists able to identify the ELROI-carrying satellite before the operator knew what had happened.
The development of ELROI comes as Earth orbit is becoming increasingly crowded due to an increasing number of satellite launches, defunct space hardware, and debris from rockets and collisions. With many satellites in operation, including those operated by SpaceX’s Starlink and Amazon’s Project Kuiper, it’s essential to avoid collisions to prevent a chain reaction that could fill orbital space with debris.
The ELROI technology has the potential to improve safety and efficiency in space operations. However, experts caution that while it may solve one problem, it could also create another, such as light pollution from low Earth orbit satellites. Nevertheless, the development of ELROI is an important step towards addressing the growing issue of overcrowded Earth orbit.
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/21/lanl_elroi