arcsec and the EIC Accelerator: Star Trackers That Spot Debris

arcsec, established in Leuven in 2020, makes star trackers, the small cameras that satellites use to work out their orientation by recognising star patterns. It was selected in the EIC Accelerator's March 2023 cut-off and received an EU grant of €1.28 million for DeDUST, "Debris Detection Using Star Trackers", a €1.83 million project that ran from September 2023 to August 2025, according to CORDIS. The idea was to add software to its Sagitta and Twinkle star trackers so that sensors already flying on satellites could also detect and track space debris, at very low cost.

The project is closed. Its final report states that arcsec developed algorithms to detect debris streaks and track them across images, an orbit determination pipeline, a simulation framework and a database with an API for space situational awareness data, and ran it all for several weeks on ground-based star trackers without loss of normal performance, according to the CORDIS reporting page. It says the new detection algorithm "correctly detects streaks 98% of the time and gives 0 false positives", and that "we are currently working on demonstrating DeDUST for the first time in orbit".

Where arcsec Stands Now

arcsec is profitable and growing. Its filings show a profit of €301,290 in 2025 after €1.05 million in 2024, gross margin of €2.39 million, equity of €3.05 million and 17.8 full-time staff, according to Companyweb. In 2023 it partnered with Neuraspace, a Portuguese start-up building AI-driven space traffic management, to supply debris observations from its star trackers, according to Payload, which reported the trackers can detect debris "as small as 3 cm".

The Technology: Two Jobs for One Camera

Star trackers photograph the sky constantly. Debris passing through the field of view shows up as streaks, which arcsec's software detects, tracks with a Kalman filter and converts into orbit predictions. Because the cameras are already on board for navigation, turning each satellite into a debris sensor adds little cost, which the company argues could create a dense monitoring network. Its database logs what each satellite operator supplies and each user requests, as a basis for payment.

What the EIC Award Promised, and What the Record Shows

The award promised debris detection using star trackers. The software, database and ground-based network were built and tested with real sky data and supplied to first pilot users. What the project did not achieve is a demonstration in space, the environment the technology is meant for; that was still being prepared at the end.

1. Detection algorithmsDelivered98% streak detection.
2. Orbit determinationDeliveredPipeline built.
3. Data platformDeliveredDatabase and API live.
4. In-orbit demonstrationNot yetIn preparation.

The Money

arcsec was already profitable before the grant, earning €446,804 in 2022. Its profit fell in 2025 while staff grew by nearly 60%. The EU paid 70% of the DeDUST project.

What Cannot Be Checked

Why Europe Should Care

Payload notes that tracking space traffic has historically been a mission for the US government's Space Surveillance Network. A European network built from sensors already in orbit would add independent capability at low cost. arcsec has built the software; it now needs to prove it works in space.

The Verdict

arcsec and the EIC have not been asked for comment for this article. It is based entirely on public records and published statements, linked throughout.