ESA/ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany | Virtual Conference / April 20, 2021 - April 23, 2021
8th european conference on space debris
- EXPLOITING SYNERGIES -
- EXPLOITING SYNERGIES -
Space security is of growing concern to all spacefaring nations. Both the increasing number of artificial space objects and the number of near-Earth objects (NEO) pose a serious threat to our orbital and ground infrastructure.
The EUROPEAN CONFERENCES ON SPACE DEBRIS are the largest gatherings on this topic. Internationally renowned scientists, engineers, operators, industry experts, lawyers, and policy makers gather to discuss various aspects of space debris research, including measurement techniques, environmental modeling theories, risk analysis techniques, protection designs, mitigation and remediation approaches, and standardization, policy, regulation, and legal issues. Over four days, the EIGHTH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON SPACE DEBRIS will provide a forum for the presentation and discussion of recent results and for setting future directions for research and collaboration.
Fraunhofer FHR participates in the conference with a variety of technical presentations and posters.
GESTRA is a powerful experimental radar sensor for space observation. The Fraunhofer FHR is developing GESTRA to protect satellites in near-Earth orbit from the rapidly increasing amount of hazardous space debris. GESTRA is set up as a quasi-monostatic pulsed phased array radar, with transmitting and receiving units positioned about 100 m from each other. These units are integrated into two separate shelters, leaving them mobile for space observation as required, and can in theory be extended with different modules. Mechanical and electronic beam scanning with GESTRA allows exact and inertia-free antenna lobe alignment to the area of interest. Various innovative methods of observation, such as an optimized “Track-while-*Scan*-Mode”, or the possibility of simultaneously looking in different directions by using digital multi-lobe formations, offer unique potential for generating a data catalog of all hazardous observable objects in orbit.
The radar system TIRA (Tracking and Imaging Radar) is the leading system in Europe for the observation and analysis of space objects. TIRA combines a highly dynamic 34-meter parabolic antenna with a tracking radar and an imaging radar. Due to the size of the antenna, the system is sensitive to weak signals and therefore allows the detection of small objects just a couple of centimeters in size.
Fraunhofer FHR works with cooperation partners such as ESA. Central tasks include, for example, support of all phases of space missions from start until re-entry, damage analysis and high-precision orbit determination for the prevention of collisions between satellites and space debris. The system therefore contributes to the protection of satellites and enhances awareness of the situation in near-Earth space