Current Status, Trends and Prospects of Space Asset Protection
- Paper number
IAC-07-D1.2.06
- Author
Dr. Wolfgang Griethe, Kayser-Threde GmbH, Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Gerd Hofschuster, OHB-System AG, Germany
- Coauthor
Wolfgang Dürr, Germany
- Year
2007
- Abstract
From the beginning of the space age until today, all spacecrafts being sent into orbit are affected by the harsh space environment, e.g. the proper work of a spacecraft is influenced by solar activity, fluctuations in the Earth`s magnetic field, cosmic rays, micrometeorids, etc. Satellite operations are adversely affected by this natural phenomena, which can cause transient disturbances or failures of sensitive electronic components and premature degradation of satellite subsystems. On the other hand, and as a matter of fact, space assets are also affected by growing manmade threats, like space debris or antisatellite systems. As recently demonstrated, attacks on satellites are no more science fiction. Unfortunately, they have become reality. For example, attacks are possible as a laser beam fired from ground or as a missile-attack, and in the age of electronic warfare bursts of artificially generated electromagnetic energy and intentional jamming are feasible. Today and even more in the future, as we rely increasingly on space systems for communication, earth observation, navigation, etc., it has to be recognized that nowadays all these space systems are confronted with different hazards. Although most of the European space systems are operated unprotected from a range of threats, the awareness of their vulnerabilities is growing of both, commercial and military designated satellites. After all the space systems represent tremendous investments and have a pivotal role in the national economy. The urgent need to ensure that space services still remain available on demand today and tomorrow leads industry to pay more attention to space asset protection and to force technological developments. In order to be able to respond to a full spectrum of hazards the paper lists and classifies firstly potential threats and gives a survey of passive and active protection measures. Secondly, trends, developments and deployments of functional capabilities are addressed to protect space systems in order to mitigate its vulnerability. Finally, dedicated sensor systems as an in situ diagnostic and a first step toward obtaining essential space protection capabilities are discussed.
- Abstract document