Omega | A sustainable future in space

Omega continues its commitment to a sustainable future in space and is tackling the scourge of satellites that have completed their missions. These now represent a danger to human activities in space. In the wake of its partnership with the ClearSpace start-up revealed in January 2022 the Biel/Bienne-based company is joining forces with Privateer to map space debris in orbit with unprecedented precision: an essential mission to ensure the accessibility and safety of orbital navigation for all.

Like the Apollo missions that made the Moonwatch the most famous chronograph in the world, Privateer’s mission is led by a crew of three: Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak, Ripcord CEO and founder Alex Fielding, and astrodynamicist and space environmentalist Dr. Moriba Jah.

A trio of big hitters, certainly, but this is not a corporate quest for glory. These innovators and problem-solvers know that space debris is an urgent issue and concerns every individual and nation. 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 exponentially more accessible, the rapidly expanding space junk problem poses a threat to the satellites the society relies on for critical services like communication, positioning and climate monitoring. Timely, accurate data are essential to the future – not just in space, but here on Earth.

This level of data collection and modelling is a monumental undertaking, and Omega is committed with Privateer in this bold endeavour. Together, they share an understanding that the clock on space sustainability is ticking, and it’s time to act.