Our present and future: A tour through the European Conference on Space Debris

You probably think of a certain episode of Futurama when you hear the words “space debris.” In it, the city of New York generates so much waste that it decides to send it into outer space, effectively pushing the problem away. This is fiction, but it helps illustrate one important idea: space is a limited resource. Low Earth orbit is becoming increasingly congested, and the concept of traffic is growing more relevant, almost as if we were talking about cars. And, just like in that episode, if nothing is done in time, the problem will return, becoming far more serious.

Many professionals believe this is why every four years, the European Space Agency (ESA) organizes the European Conference on Space Debris. The ninth edition took place this year from April 1st to 4th, and GMV had a strong presence, showcasing its commitment and solutions.

The event was held in Bonn, a city in western Germany on the banks of the Rhine, famous for being the birthplace of Beethoven and, among other things, for serving as the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. From 1992 to 1999, what is now the World Conference Center Bonn served as the Bundestag, or German parliament, and its plenary chamber, once the scene of fervent political debates, served as the venue for the conference presentations and discussions. Over time, due to growing interest in the topic and the increasing number of proposals submitted, ESA had to move the event from its usual location at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC) to a larger congress center with a capacity of up to 1,300 people.

There, under the watchful eye of the federal eagle presiding over the chamber, attendees, including GMV, presented the latest advances in Space Traffic Management (STM) and Space Surveillance and Tracking (SST). Topics covered ranged widely: from highly scientific talks on the functioning of radars and telescopes for debris detection and tracking, to complex algorithms that allow for more accurate collision probability calculations, leading to a safer and more sustainable space environment. Notably, space traffic management is also gaining relevance in regions beyond Earth's proximity, such as the Moon—an area that had not been previously considered but will be crucial to manage effectively to avoid repeating our past mistakes in Earth orbit.

From GMV, ten proposals were accepted for oral presentation, resulting in a large delegation. 

• Gonzalo Azaña presented a software tool for calculating controlled atmospheric reentries.
• Tiago de Oliveira introduced a scalable and modular collision avoidance system.
• Jonko Paetzold discussed object tracking strategies in the cis-lunar environment.
• Ewelina Janota explained the latest developments in ESA’s laser debris tracking network.
• Jack D. McHugh showcased the new features of ESA’s SST Core software developed by GMV.
• Patricia Cerrada presented the CREAM-IOD mission for safer and more sustainable operations.
• Juliette Prézeau outlined a method for evaluating collision risks during launch and orbital injection phases. 

Lastly, I presented various methods for tracking and monitoring uncooperative objects and cataloging them, a collaborative effort between industry and academia.

Meanwhile, Alfredo Antón and Jorge Rubio were on the front lines during the poster session, defending three posters: “An Accurate and Efficient Particle Filtering Method for Attitude Estimation Using Photometric Measurements,” “Collision Risk Estimation and Automated Mitigation,” and “RODDAS: Robust Orbit Determination and Data Association library for SSA based on GODOT.”

Special mention goes to GMV colleagues in ESA’s Space Debris Office: Sascha Metz, Beatriz Jilete, and Xanthi Oikonomidou, who not only contributed with their presentations but also helped organize the event.

GMV also had its booth at the base of the exhibition center's stairs, where hundreds of curious attendees came to learn about the full range of GMV’s SST products. Alfredo, again, alongside Alberto Águeda, engaged with visitors and showcased all the solutions available. It also turned out to be the perfect backdrop for group photos!

On a personal level, this event was an unparalleled opportunity to meet incredible professionals in the field, reconnect with familiar faces, and exchange fascinating ideas. 

These are intense days, filled with information and human interaction, but they are worth it. Above all, I am left with the sense of family we have at GMV and how well we represent our values wherever we go. With this team, the future is more than secure.

Author: Juan Velasco