This radar will be able to detect objects in Earth orbit that can pose a risk, and alert its operators to take preventative measures. Thanks to this new technology, space exploration will be safer.

On July 7th the European Space Agency and the Spanish company Indra Espacio S.A. signed a contract for the design of the future surveillance radar under the SSA (Space Situational Awareness) program, and for the development of a functional prototype. This contract represents a milestone in the SSA Preparatory Program.

In the future, the SSA surveillance radar will help detect dangerous objects in low Earth orbits. The rapid detection and monitoring of the position of space debris will allow evaluating the risk of collision with satellites and planning avoidance maneuvers. The SSA system will ultimately detect, predict and evaluate the threats for life or property brought about by artificial satellites, reentry into the atmosphere, explosions or emissions in orbit, collisions, interruptions of satellite missions or the services they provide, possible impacts with Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) and the effects of space meteorology on infrastructure in orbit or based on Earth.

The system will also use various optical telescopes and a network of data processing centers in order to study in detail the different regions of our Earth’s environment.

The contract includes the design of the future SSA radar and the design, development and installation of a small-scale prototype with phased-array radars, in order to validate the technology to be used in the future surveillance radar. In addition to managing the project, Indra Espacio will be responsible for the design and development of the radar transmitter.

The contract is valued at €4.7 million, and is in addition to another under which Indra Espacio will seek an optimal site for the future surveillance radar among the ESA Member States.