Space debris in space is dangerous and is becoming a growing problem. Because a collision with a satellite or even a space station can have fatal consequences. A telescope should prevent it from getting that far.
Empfingen (dpa/lsw) - It houses a huge telescope that can locate up to ten centimeters of small space debris in space - the Johannes Kepler Observatory will be inaugurated in Empfingen (Freudenstadt district) on Wednesday (11 a.m.). The highlight of the research facility is the telescope, according to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) the largest of its kind in Europe for observing objects in orbit. It stands in a 15 meter high round tower with a rotating dome. As soon as it spots objects, researchers can use special lasers to determine the trajectory of the stray parts and determine their nature.
The data and information collected in this way should help to avoid collisions between satellites and space debris. The focus of the researchers is primarily on objects that are between 400 and 2000 kilometers away from Earth - i.e. at an altitude at which satellites orbit the Earth and the International Space Station ISS is also located. This had only had to avoid space debris at the end of April - not for the first time. A collision could have severely damaged the station.
