SpaceTech: LeoLabs and the New Zealand Space Agency Launch a Global Orbital Monitoring Platform

LeoLabs and the New Zealand Space Agency (NZSA) have signed a multi-year agreement to establish a software platform for monitoring space activity. New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment formalized this multi-year agreement, stating that it would lead to “the world’s most advanced platform in terms of regulation and sustainability for space activities.”

LeoLabs began developing the platform with the NZSA in 2019. Over the past two years, the prototype developed by LeoLabs and the NZSA has become operational. It tracks objects in low Earth orbit (LEO) and verifies that operators are complying with the commitments they made in their launch license applications.

The Surge in Space Debris in Low Earth Orbit and the Urgency of Monitoring

The global market for space traffic monitoring and management (Space Traffic Management, or STM) is experiencing significant growth. Once limited to military agencies with heavy infrastructure, this sector has opened up to private DeepTech companies due to a critical operational emergency: congestion in low Earth orbit.

According to the latest statistics from space agencies, there are currently more than 35,000 pieces of space debris larger than 10 centimeters in orbit, as well as millions of smaller fragments that are just as destructive due to their kinetic speed (approximately 28,000 km/h). At the same time, the massive deployment of commercial satellite mega-constellations has increased the number of operational satellites to several thousand, exponentially multiplying the risk of catastrophic collisions—known as the “Kessler syndrome.”

LeoLabs' Technical Infrastructure: Electronically Scanned Radars

To date, much of LeoLabs’ work has focused on helping satellite operators identify potential collisions and determine how to safely maneuver out of the path of other satellites and space debris. In this new line of business, LeoLabs is helping a government agency fulfill its commitment to overseeing space activities.  

To power its cloud-based software platform, LeoLabs relies on its own global networkof tangibleindustrial assets, consisting of four state-of-the-art space-based radars (including the Kiwi Space Radar located in New Zealand). These facilities usephased-array radar technology. Unlike traditional satellite dishes, which must physically rotate to track a target, these radars steer their beam entirely through software and instantly. They are capable of simultaneously tracking thousands of objects, including debris as small as 2 centimeters, offering unmatched location accuracy in the private sector.

A Model of Sovereign Regulation: The Impact on New Zealand

"We believe this is a model that can be replicated worldwide," said LeoLabs CEO Dan Ceperley. "Every nation has a set of assets for which it is responsible and has an impact on the sustainability of space. Countries need to be aware of the risks they face."  

For New Zealand, this agreement is more than just a technical issue; it is a powerful driver of economic attractiveness and sovereignty. By positioning itself as the first country in the world with an automated regulatory tool capable of continuously monitoring space, the country is attracting international satellite operators seeking a responsible and secure jurisdiction. This strengthens the local aerospace ecosystem, a rapidly growing sector that already generates hundreds of skilled jobs and millions of dollars in economic benefits for the New Zealand economy.  

The Outer Space Treaty and the Challenge of Implementation

Under the Outer Space Treaty, the launching state is required to license satellites, and to ensure that satellite operators comply with the licensing rules. This doesn't always happen, however. While countries put considerable effort into the licensing process, many lack the tools to track satellites in orbit or to take action if a satellite deviates from its orbit or fails to deorbit within the agreed timeframe.  

The four LeoLabs radars provide the New Zealand Space Agency with information on the location of objects in orbit and highlight potential issues. Following a pilot phase, the NZSA has integrated the platform into its space operations to track the position and orbit of individual satellites, view historical records, obtain reports on changes in satellite orbits, and receive alerts when a satellite fails to comply with its license agreement.  

Most of the time, satellites remain in their planned orbits, and the platform provides confirmation, Ceperley said. “When there’s an early indication that a satellite is on a different orbit than planned, you have plenty of time to respond,” Ceperley said. “It’s not necessarily an emergency. It can be a matter for discussion. You want to be notified as early as possible so you can respond, whether you’re the company or the regulator.”