DATA DOTS
Small sensors flown on spacecraft that measure the space environment and any interference right where the spacecraft is, rather than inferring it from afar.
Why it matters
When a satellite misbehaves, its operator often cannot tell whether space weather, a technical fault or a hostile actor caused it. Measurements taken at the spacecraft itself give the evidence needed to sort that out.
How the technology works
Each DATA DOT measures conditions around the spacecraft it rides on and sends the readings home, where they feed Space DOTS' SKY-I platform. The first unit launched on January 14, 2025, on SpaceX's Transporter-12 into sun-synchronous orbit, and the company plans next-generation units for geostationary and cislunar missions.
Sources
Updated Oct 22, 2026 · How we source facts · Suggest a correction