Odin Black Box
A sensor package satellite builders can add so a spacecraft can record and report hits from tiny debris, the sub-centimeter pieces no one can track from the ground.
Why it matters
Most debris that can disable a satellite is too small to catalog. When a satellite fails, operators rarely learn whether debris was the cause. Impact data from many satellites builds a picture of that hidden risk.
How the technology works
The Black Box is an onboard recorder that satellite makers integrate into their spacecraft. It records the exact moment and location of each debris impact and reports it, so Odin can alert other operators, attribute failures and support insurance.
Arkisys plans to fly it on its first Cutter mission and four more Cutter spacecraft.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction