SAFRAN DATA SYSTEMS HELPS PROTECT SATELLITES AND MONITOR SPACE
Safran Data Systems, a leading supplier of space equipment contributing to French and European sovereignty, took part in the second AsterX exercise in February 2022. AsterX is a unique operation designed to test operational processes for space situational awareness. We look back at this military simulation exercise in space.
- Snapshots
- Success
- Photo Report
- At a glance
- Discovery
AsterX, a fictitious Star Wars
With the growing array of space applications, greater traffic density and the advent of new players, space situational awareness is a strategically important sovereignty issue. In February, Safran Data Systems took part in the second AsterX military exercise in space. Organized by the French Space Command, the exercise aimed to test various operational processes for space situational awareness, as well as our ability to respond to alert situations. European Union member states were involved for the first time, especially the German and Italian space surveillance centers, to strengthen international cooperation.
Fictitious but plausible, the scenario for this military space exercise was based on an entirely simulated geopolitical conflict between armed forces. The “space fighters” had to identify the threats, with more information being revealed each day, in order to get as close as possible to the conditions of a real-life crisis situations. Also held at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse, this second exercise was capped by closing remarks from Florence Parly, French Minister for the Armed Forces, Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, and several European defense ministers.
WeTrack, a unique space surveillance solution
The Space Command has been using data from the Safran Data Systems WeTrack solution since 2019 to enrich and diversify its sources of space situational awareness information. Based on a global network of fully automated radiofrequency sensors, WeTrack provides highly accurate, continuous day/night, all-weather tracking of all satellites in the geostationary arc, real-time detection of maneuvers and monitoring of their orbital positions. In addition, WeTrack provides a complete spatial view by interfacing with other types of sensors (optical, radar, laser). Today, this service covers more than 300 satellites.
An exercise like AsterX allows us to check that Safran Data Systems technologies continue to meet customer expectations, especially in a crisis situation, and to test the operational concepts for sensors. For example, the WeTrack display and control interface is one of the real value-added features of the service. In response to growing market needs and the challenges faced by new civil and military customers, Safran Data Systems is stepping up the development of its service to include medium and low-Earth orbits.
Sprint Advanced Concept Training, the American counterpart
Since 2019, Safran Data Systems has also been taking part in Sprint Advanced Concept Training (SACT), a long-term international exercise organized by the U.S. National Space Defense Center (NSDC). Its purpose is to evaluate the ability of the commercial sector to support the “protect and defend” mission. It also tests the industry’s ability to track and analyze actual complex space events. For the second year in a row, Yann Picard, Product Line Manager, Satellite Communication and Situational Awareness at Safran Data Systems, acted as the exercise’s operations director for the Meridian cell. He coordinated the transfer of mission objectives, in conjunction with the Pacific and U.S. teams.
