Monitoring Space Debris with the Sardinia Radio Telescope

Space debris consists of objects of varying sizes and shapes orbiting the Earth, including satellite fragments, rocket stages and other objects or parts of objects that have ceased to function. NASA estimates that there are over 500,000 pieces of trackable space debris (with a diameter of up to 1 cm) orbiting the Earth; They travel at speeds ranging from 7 to 10 km/s (in Low Earth Orbit, i.e. below altitudes of 2,000 km), which means that, even if small, they can damage satellites or other spacecraft. Since the return of space debris to Earth would require a high expenditure of economic resources, it is more convenient to monitor these objects orbiting the planet in order to avoid collisions with functioning objects and thus produce further space debris. The aim of our work is to make the Sardinia Radio Telescope, in a bistatic configuration with a transmitter, an instrument that allows us to track and therefore obtain accurate information on the orbital behaviour of space debris that could pose a threat to satellite operators requesting the service.

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Today, Astro Chiacchiere! is an informal meeting among the staff of the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory (staff, postdocs, and students), aimed at discussing topics mainly of a scientific, technological, and informational nature about the Observatory’s activities. The meeting usually takes place on Tuesdays at 11:30 AM in the Auditorium of the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory. For information and/or contributions contact vvacca@oa-cagliari.inaf.it and surcis@oa-cagliari.inaf.it