U.S. program tracks tiny space junk to protect satellites

The U.S. government’s Space Debris Identification and Tracking (SINTRA) program aims to detect millions of tiny space debris pieces, down to a millimeter, in low-Earth orbit. Currently, about 25,000 larger debris pieces are monitored, but smaller fragments pose significant risks to satellites. SINTRA employs supercomputers and AI to track these hazards, with a budget potentially between $50 million and $100 million.