Development Directions in Ground-Based Optical Tracking Sensors for Space Surveillance: Analysis and Recommendations for South Korea

Ground-based optical tracking for space situational awareness is evolving rapidly in response to the sharp growth of the number of resident space objects and the rise of commercial actors in the New Space era. We synthesize qualitative advances over the last five years and outline development priorities for Korea’s ground-based optical tracking sensor systems. Current situation feature commercial off-the-shelf (COTS)-driven miniaturization and networked operations via simplified observatory infrastructure; the emergence of short-wave infrared (SWIR)-enabled cathemeral (day-and-night) tracking as a core capability; and the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) data processing and autonomous operations. These advances have reopened the low-Earth-orbit (LEO) regime to optical tracking and reduced warning latency through persistent monitoring. Based on these findings, we recommend prioritizing cathemeral performance—centered on SWIR sensing and end-to-end automation—to secure robust LEO tracking capability. We further assess the expected gains from cathemeral observation of national LEO satellites using an observation-opportunity simulation.