Omega is getting back into the space business by partnering with Privateer, a company aiming to map satellites and debris orbiting the Earth so that future launches do not run the risk of crashing into anything.
It is Omega’s second investment in the future of the space economy this year.
In January, the company announced a partnership with ClearSpace, which is working on solutions to remove dangerous debris — space junk — that is orbiting the earth.
There are thousands of satellites orbiting earth, many of which have failed and become uncontrollable objects that could smash into other satellites.
By first mapping every piece of hardware with Privateer, any problematic items can be captured and removed from orbit by a ClearSpace craft.
“Our partnership with Privateer is like finding the final piece in the puzzle. With this new project, we can give back to the planet from the depths of the sea to beyond the skies. There is also a great synergy between Omega and Privateer. We share an obsessive attention to detail. The inside of a mechanical watch is like a mini universe. Everything needs to operate without obstructions if you want it to work perfectly and endure,” says Omega president and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann.
Privateer is a data engine that maps satellites and debris in Earth orbit with unprecedented accuracy and transparency.
It is the brainchild of Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Ripcord CEO and founder Alex Fielding, and astrodynamicist and space environmentalist Dr. Moriba Jah.
Approximately 40,000 pieces of human-made space junk are currently being tracked as they orbit the Earth, but that only includes objects larger than 10cm. Hundreds of thousands of other on-orbit hazards remain unidentified, untracked and unpredictable.
As space becomes more accessible, this junk poses a threat to future missions and existing satellites and it is vital to know its location and trajectory.
