Spain installs radar to detect hazardous space debris
Spain has installed a radar that will test methods for finding orbital debris hazardous to space navigation.
Following an 18-month design and development phase, the radar was installed near Santorcaz, about 30km from Madrid, and the first series of acceptance and validation tests are scheduled to begin in mid-November.
Early debris detection is crucial to help warn satellite operators of collision risks and to enable avoidance manoeuvres to be made. The newly installed radar will be used to develop future debris warning services.
Indra Espacio is the prime industrial partner and is responsible for the design and development of the radar transmitter. The development of the radar receiver was subcontracted to the Fraunhofer Institute for High Frequency Physics and Radar Techniques (FHR) in Wachtberg, Germany.
In a statement, Nicolas Bobrinsky, head of ESA’s SSA preparatory programme, said: ‘Installation of the test radar at Santorcaz is a significant milestone in ESA’s SSA programme.
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