SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking)
♦ The world's first commercial space surveillance satellite, SCOT (Space Camera for Object Tracking) was commissioned on 8 March 2025. ♦ This was developed by Bengaluru-based spacetech start-up Digantara and launched aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-12 rocket on 14 January 2025. ♦ SCOT is designed to track and monitor objects as small as five centimetre, with a high revisit rate for frequent, precise observations of orbital activity. ♦ In a statement, Digantara said the SCOT satellite achieved first light on March 8 and its inaugural image while passing over South America -- a breathtaking view of Earth's limb, with the city of Buenos Aires glowing against the planet's curvature. ♦ As space becomes increasingly congested, this capability is essential for mitigating collision risks and promoting sustainable space operations by providing accurate and dependable data to satellite operators and regulatory bodies.