Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques FHRGESTRA TX2 continues the technological development of Germany’s first space surveillance radar, GESTRA (German Experimental Space Surveillance and Tracking Radar). The use of enhanced high‑frequency modules based on innovative semiconductor technology, together with a scalable antenna front end, significantly increases the overall system’s performance and flexibility. The objective is to improve the precision of object detection in low Earth orbit and to sustainably enhance space situational awareness through networked operation with GESTRA and the second GESTRA receiver.
Radar-Based Space Situational Awareness for Space Security
Monitoring near‑Earth space is becoming increasingly important in light of the growing number of satellites and space debris. For safe space missions and the protection of critical infrastructures, a high‑performance radar-based space situational awareness capability is essential. The GESTRA system, commissioned by the German Space Agency at DLR, represents a central building block in this context. Building on this system, GESTRA TX2 primarily aims to develop a more powerful transmission unit. Integrated into the existing GESTRA network, this unit will enable higher system availability as well as improved detection performance and more precise orbit tracking.
Modular Antenna Front End for Tailored Requirements
A second focus of the project is a new modular system approach. Instead of a monolithic design in which scalability is achieved through multiple transmit and receive units, a scalable, modular antenna front end is being developed.
This approach enables:
- flexible adaptation to different operational requirements
- reduced system complexity
- improved maintainability
Concept Phase Initiated
The project is structured into three phases. In the current first phase, the concept phase, a high‑performance transmission module is being developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering (IESE), a modular antenna front end is being prototyped, and system‑level concepts for networked operation are being designed. This phase concludes with the definition of the preliminary overall system design and extensively tested transmission modules. Building on this, the design phase will finalize the system design for series production, followed by the construction phase, which includes system integration and the development of a demonstrator.
With GESTRA TX2, the foundation is being laid for a future‑ready radar system that strengthens both national and European space situational awareness, enables further research activities in the field of space surveillance, and opens pathways for industrial exploitation. In doing so, Fraunhofer FHR makes a substantial contribution to enhancing the safety and efficiency of space missions.