Two eyes have recently begun to appear in the Swabian Alb Bundeswehr into space. The Bundeswehr has chosen Meßstetten – an already important military location – for its two telescope systems with state-of-the-art optical sensor technology. The two telescopes built there are used to observe space debris and protect the capabilities of the Bundeswehr and civilian satellites.
Southwest is part of Space Command
Even though we are still months away from final commissioning of both space telescopes, we are already training hard. According to the Bundeswehr, preparations to set up two eight-meter telescope systems to observe and track objects in space are in progress.
The telescope is currently in the integration and testing phase, and commissioning is scheduled for 2026. Infrastructure measures will be largely completed by 2025, said a spokesman for the Bundeswehr space command in Uedem (North Rhine-Westphalia). From there the telescope is controlled remotely. The system is scheduled to be fully handed over to the Bundeswehr Space Command for use in 2026.
The system, which cost 24 million euros, was financed from a special Bundeswehr fund. According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), the federal government wants to provide a total of 35 billion euros for space projects and security architecture in space by 2030. The Bundeswehr space command will need its own military satellite operations center.
Why is Meßstetten’s location suitable and important?
According to the Bundeswehr, the Meßstetten location offers good conditions for operating optical sensors. Due to the geographical location of the Swabian Alb, there are suitable atmospheric visibility conditions with low light pollution. The Bundeswehr also has suitable property there with secure military infrastructure and sufficient space to install such systems.
“High topography, a stable weather situation with a relatively large number of clear nights, a low residential density, and an existing military security zone: these factors make the location particularly suitable for national comparisons,” the spokesperson said.
In addition to the future new telescope at Meßstetten, the Bundeswehr uses other sensors and systems for space surveillance, in particular radar systems and civil and commercial observation data. A detailed list of military sensor locations was not provided for security reasons.
According to the Bundeswehr, the military training area in Meßstetten with its approximately 3,000 posts is the largest Bundeswehr location in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg.
Why does the Bundeswehr need a telescope?
Earth is naturally protected from most dangers from outer space by Earth’s atmosphere. Friction in the atmosphere creates light and heat, thereby causing burns. But these gas shells can’t do much about debris and larger boulders. The larger an object, the more likely it is to not burn completely. According to the Bundeswehr, individual entries could pose a threat to the world’s population.
How many similar telescopes are there across the country?
This is the first project of its kind in Germany. Only two telescope systems on Meßstetten are known to the public. The Bundeswehr does not currently operate any other telescopes of its own. Space Command also uses data from national research institutions and international partners.
Telescopes observe space debris
The telescope’s detection range ranges from an altitude of about 400 kilometers to 36,000 kilometers. The collected data is fed into the space situation center at Uedem and processed there along with other data to create the overall near-Earth space situation.
For example, the Space Situation Center assesses the risks from space debris that could hit and damage satellites, the possibility of re-entry of space objects, and the influence of space weather triggered by solar activity. For this purpose, objects in near-Earth space are monitored and, if necessary, clarified, as also announced by the Bundeswehr.
With the new telescope, the Bundeswehr said it plays an important role in space surveillance – an important step for security and control in orbit.
These domes are already used in various observatories and ground stations around the world for scientific and industrial purposes. The software platform not only enables precise control of the telescope, but also information management, analysis and data reduction. All operational processes, including system control and communication with the space situation center at Uedem, are fully automated.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:251111-930-275580/2
