SOAR, a Florida startup founded in 2025, announced a partnership with the University of Texas at El Paso to develop a passive system for capturing small space debris measuring 10 centimeters or smaller. The Passive Orbital Debris Removal System (PODRS) uses a rotating multi-panel structure with layered shielding to intercept debris traveling at speeds exceeding 7,000 miles per hour. Current space tracking networks focus on objects larger than 10 centimeters, leaving a growing blind spot as satellite constellations expand in low Earth orbit.
UTEP's National Security Institute will lead the design work, with the team analyzing which high-consequence orbits to target for debris removal rather than attempting comprehensive cleanup. European Space Agency models estimate more than 140 million objects smaller than 10 centimeters currently orbit Earth. Funding remains a historical obstacle to debris removal efforts, though military dependence on LEO capabilities and the potential for debris creation during anti-satellite conflicts could drive demand for cleanup solutions.