Look Up has announced the operational readiness of its SORASYS-1 radar following successful qualification testing. Located in the Monts-de-Randon region of Lozère at 1,200 meters elevation in southern France, the system now delivers high-precision tracking of low Earth orbit objects.
This milestone marks France’s first space surveillance radar designed and operated by a startup, enhancing European strategic autonomy in space traffic monitoring. SORASYS-1 detects objects smaller than 10 centimeters in LEO up to 2,000 kilometers, covering over 90% of active space traffic, with sub-meter accuracy unaffected by weather.
The modular radar uses digitally controlled active antennas emitting sub-meter wavelength signals for real-time data processing, classification, and collision risk assessment. It integrates seamlessly with Look Up’s SYNAPSE platform, fusing radar data with optical, RF, and laser inputs for trajectory predictions and maneuver suggestions.
Funded by the French government’s France 2030 initiative, the European Commission, and a €50 million 2025 raise, Look Up plans two more radars—SORASYS 2A (Rehua) and 2B (Matarii)—in French Polynesia. By 2030, a global network of seven radars will support space infrastructure protection, collision prevention, and orbital behavior analysis.
This capability addresses rising LEO congestion, reducing false alarms that waste satellite fuel and enabling precise space traffic management for operators and governments.