The Korean Optical Wide-field patroL-Network (OWL-Net)

Thousands of satellites and debris fragments orbit Earth at speeds exceeding 28,000 km/h. Tracking these objects is essential for national security and protecting valuable space assets. The Korean Optical Wide-field patroL-Network (OWL-Net) represents South Korea’s solution to these space situational awareness challenges.

Developed by the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI), this network of robotic telescopes allows South Korea to monitor its space assets independently as regional tensions evolve and the orbital environment becomes more crowded.

A Global Network with Korean Vision

What makes OWL-Net unique is its global reach. Unlike many national space tracking systems, OWL-Net extends well beyond Korean borders, with five identical optical observatories strategically positioned across multiple continents:

Mongolia
Morocco
Israel
United States
South Korea

This distribution enables continuous satellite tracking regardless of Earth’s rotation or local weather conditions. When night falls on one observatory, another takes over the monitoring duties.

Each station contains identical equipment, ensuring uniform data collection and easy maintenance, while being remotely controlled from a central facility in Daejeon, South Korea.

Despite its international footprint, OWL-Net’s mission remains distinctly Korean: tracking and safeguarding South Korean satellites as they navigate increasingly contested orbital regions.

How OWL-Net Works

What’s particularly clever about OWL-Net is its approach to satellite tracking through purely optical methods. While most Western space powers rely heavily on expensive radar systems for their primary tracking capabilities, South Korea has created an effective alternative at a fraction of the cost.

Smart Design for Maximum Impact

At the heart of each observatory sits a 0.5-meter aperture telescope with these specifications:

Ritchey-Chretien optical configuration
1.1-degree field of view
Electrically cooled 4K CCD camera with 9μm pixel size
1 arcsecond/pixel resolution
Alt-azimuth mount for tracking capability

The network’s key feature is its chopper system—a mechanical device that interrupts exposure to generate multiple data points from a single image. This system captures over 100 distinct position measurements during a single satellite pass, enabling precise trajectory calculations with minimal equipment.

Automated Operations

Given that several OWL-Net stations are located in remote regions thousands of miles from South Korea, the system operates with remarkable autonomy. A sophisticated Network Scheduling System (NSS) at headquarters analyzes various factors including:

Past observation records
Predicted satellite visibility windows
User requirements and priorities

From this analysis, the system generates an Observation Command File (OCF) for each site every day. These commands are then executed by local Station Operating Systems with minimal human intervention required—a true “set it and forget it” approach to global space surveillance.

This automation extends to environmental monitoring as well. Each site includes weather stations and safety systems that automatically protect the sensitive optical equipment during adverse conditions while maximizing usable observation time.

From Scientific Tool to Strategic Asset

While KASI presents OWL-Net primarily as scientific infrastructure, its strategic value to South Korean security is unmistakable. The system provides critical capabilities that directly support national defense interests:

Independence in Space Intelligence

Before OWL-Net, South Korea largely depended on foreign powers—particularly the United States—for information about satellite positions and trajectories. The network now grants South Korea independent verification capabilities, allowing it to monitor both its own assets and potentially threatening objects without relying on external sources.

The timing of OWL-Net’s full operational capability in 2018 proved prescient given subsequent developments in the region. In 2023-2024, both North and South Korea launched their first dedicated military reconnaissance satellites, marking a new chapter in the peninsula’s decades-long security competition. As South Korea deploys more military satellites, having its own monitoring system becomes increasingly valuable.

Protecting a Growing Space Fleet

The system enables protection of South Korea’s expanding constellation of satellites—assets that support everything from civilian communications to military intelligence gathering. By maintaining precise orbital data, OWL-Net helps predict and avoid potential collisions that could disable these critical systems.

Protecting these valuable orbital assets justifies the investment in monitoring systems like OWL-Net.

Contributing to Global Space Safety

Beyond monitoring Korean satellites, OWL-Net adds to international space awareness by tracking collision risks in increasingly congested orbital regions. This capability serves both national security interests and international cooperation goals—a perfect example of dual-use technology that delivers both strategic and scientific benefits.

OWL-Net in Action

Since becoming fully operational in 2018, OWL-Net has focused on tracking 11 South Korean LEO satellites and monitoring geostationary satellites positioned over Korean territory (between 113°E and 144°E longitude).

The system delivers impressive performance metrics:

Position accuracy within 3km for in-track measurements
Time synchronization precise to 0.001 seconds
Ability to observe satellites during twilight conditions (when satellites are illuminated by the sun while the sky remains dark)
Maximum astrometric sampling rate of 50Hz using the chopper system

These capabilities allow OWL-Net to fulfill its core mission efficiently, despite being more specialized than the massive tracking networks operated by space superpowers.

Limitations and Future Horizons

Like any technological system, OWL-Net has inherent constraints based on its design choices:

Weather Vulnerability

As with all optical systems, OWL-Net operations require clear skies—a fundamental limitation compared to all-weather radar systems. While this vulnerability is partially offset by the global distribution of stations (if it’s cloudy in Mongolia, perhaps it’s clear in Morocco), it remains a significant constraint on continuous operations.

Time-Limited Observation Windows

Optical satellite tracking requires specific lighting conditions: a dark sky with satellites illuminated by the sun. This typically limits observations to dawn and dusk periods, creating inevitable gaps in continuous tracking capabilities.

Focused Rather Than Comprehensive Coverage

The system primarily monitors South Korean satellites rather than attempting to track all objects in orbit. While this focused approach maximizes efficiency for national priorities, it creates potential blind spots for broader space situational awareness.

To address these limitations, South Korean defense officials have discussed developing complementary technologies, including radar-based space surveillance systems that could work alongside OWL-Net to create a more comprehensive national space monitoring capability.

International Collaboration in a Competitive Domain

Despite its clear national security applications, OWL-Net also facilitates international scientific collaboration. KASI researchers regularly participate in international space surveillance conferences, sharing technical insights while gaining exposure to complementary technologies developed by other nations.

The system’s development reflects knowledge exchange with established space powers, particularly the United States, while demonstrating South Korea’s growing indigenous technological capabilities. This balance of cooperation and self-sufficiency characterizes South Korea’s broader approach to space development.

OWL-Net Integration with KeepTrack

After the most recent update, all five OWL-Net sensors have now been integrated into the KeepTrack application. Users can visualize the coverage area and capabilities of each OWL-Net sensor by selecting “Sensors” in the bottom menu and choosing the specific OWL-Net station of interest.

Additionally, KeepTrack has recently added initial Korean language support, making this valuable resource more accessible to Korean users. Those interested in helping improve these translations can volunteer through the project’s GitHub repository at https://github.com/thkruz/keeptrack.space.

South Korea’s Growing Space Identity

The OWL-Net represents more than just technical achievement—it symbolizes South Korea’s emerging identity as a significant space power with both scientific and security interests in Earth orbit. As regional competition in space intensifies, particularly with North Korea’s recent satellite launches, OWL-Net provides critical infrastructure supporting South Korean independence in space operations.

While less comprehensive than the massive tracking networks operated by the United States and Russia, OWL-Net demonstrates remarkable efficiency and innovation within its design constraints. Its global footprint, automated operations, and precise tracking capabilities reflect South Korea’s strategic commitment to protecting its space assets amid growing regional tensions.

As both Koreas accelerate their space programs—with reconnaissance satellites becoming the latest front in their decades-long competition—systems like OWL-Net will play increasingly vital roles in maintaining space security and strategic stability on the Korean Peninsula and beyond.