ESA Deploys its First Orbital Debris Test Radar

New radar has been designed to test methods for finding orbital debris that can be hazardous to space navigation. This has been installed in Spain and will be used to develop future debris warning services. This will boost safety of European Satellite Operators.

Initially installed near Santorcaz, the radar's validation test is scheduled to initiate in mid November.

Early debris detection is crucial as it will help to warn satellite operators of collision risks and enable avoidance manoeuvres to be made.

The prime industrial partner who is responsible for the design and development of the radar transmitter is Indra Espacio. 

"Installation of the test radar at Santorcaz is a significant milestone in ESA's SSA programme," says Nicolas Bobrinsky, Head of ESA's Space Situational Awareness Preparatory Programme.

"Fielding a so-called 'breadboard' radar means that Spanish and German industry are developing world-class technical expertise in the radar detection of hazardous space debris."

'Breadboard' means that the radar is easily reconfigurable depending on test results, helping engineers optimise its performance over time.

The radar deployed in Spain by ESA makes use of the 'monostatic' design, in which the transmitter and receiver are co-located within just a few hundred meters.

"This monostatic radar will be used to demonstrate and validate radar technologies for space debris surveillance in low-altitude orbits," says Gian Maria Pinna, Ground Segment Manager in ESA's SSA office.

"Although the capabilities of the test radar are limited, its design will allow us to achieve considerable understanding of the technical problems inherent in orbital debris detection with radar techniques, a know-how that ESA is increasingly building-up via the SSA Programme."