their military are in charge of monitoring any inconvenience – FayerWayer

The space junk it is a risk that world authorities are increasingly aware of. Europe wants to prevent any type of inconvenience in this regard, and for this he appointed the military of Spain like watchmen against orbital debris.

The Spanish Surveillance and Space Tracking System it is equipped with several elements, highlighting a radar produced by the company Indra. According to the calculations of this company, European satellites are valued at 340 billion euros per year, growing at a rate of 10%.

In other words, they can’t afford for any debris to affect any of these satellites.

The Spanish Government renamed the Air Force as Air and Space Army, last July. Already his work goes beyond the firmament, but even to the outskirts of our planet.

And the first mission you will have is… monitor space debris.

Europe and the space debris challenge

Until 2010 we have to go back to see the European interests in the early detection of debris. At that time, the European Space Agency (ESA) signed a €4.7 million contract with Indra to build the radar.

Two years later, it was deployed from the town of Santorcaz, 30 kilometers from Madrid.

“Early detection of debris is crucial to help warn satellite operators of collision risks and allow maneuvers to be carried out to avoid them,” pointed out in 2012 the ESA, in a statement.

The then Air Force announced, in 2018, the creation of a space threat surveillance center; It took four years for the name change to the Air and Space Army to become official.

“In order to minimize the vulnerability of air and outer space”, pointed out the Official State Gazette last July, “and to favor that this area supposes a safe environment, it becomes a priority to guarantee free access and exploitation of space, as well as to protect the aerospace infrastructures, means and services that are available from any challenge and threat”.

China and Russia, in the crosshairs for their behavior in space

Joseph Borrell, High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security of the European Commission, was forceful regarding the risks that have been experienced with space debris.

“We are detecting more and more examples of irresponsible and hostile behavior in the use of space,” said Borrell, quoted by El Periódico. The allusion pointed to China and Russia, whose space debris has generated more than one problem for NASA and ESA.

Now, Spain will officially have the duty to prevent some of this debris from affecting European satellites.