Adler-2 launched on 15 Apr 2023
Update 15Apr2023: ADLER-2 launched on SpaceX Falcon 9 into orbit. Successfull deployment +01:07:22 after launch
Update 27Mar2023: ADLER-1 is in low-drag mode and decreasing in height. Still performing nominally
Update 13Jan2023: One year in orbit 🎉 and performing nominal
Update 10May2022: First impact detected via the APID instrument on ADLER-1
Update 08May2022: First micrometeoride detected on APID: Signal indicates extraterrestrial origin at velocities >15 km/s
Update 25Mar2022: ADLER-1 is now fully operational. Hand-over and check-out phase has been completetd.
Update 08Mar2022: APID wings were successfully deployed.
Update 03Mar2022: All systems are ready for deployment of the APID wings.
Update 25Feb2022: S-Bank downlink is established, telemetry is continuously received Update 31Jan2022: The official NORAD designation of Adler-1 is object 2022-003F LEMUR-2-KRYWE
Update 21Jan2022: Telemetry receiving
Update 14Jan2022: The cubesat was inserted successfully into orbit, beacons received and two-way comms confirmed.
Update 13Jan2022: ADLER-1 launched with Virgin Orbit
SMALL
ADLER-1 is a 30x10x10 cm small cubesat, based on the SPIRE Lemur-class satellites
FAST
ADLER-1 will demonstrate that from idea to orbit it only takes 1 year.
AUSTRIAN
ADLER-1 is a project led by an Austrian CEO and funded by an Austrian company.
ADLER-1 is an operational cubesat detecting high-velocity particles in Low Earth Orbit. It is developed and operated by the Austrian Space Forum, Spire Global and Findus, and is a contribution in red-white-red to assessing the space debris threat to spaceflight activities.
small, but fast "bullets in the dark"
Space Debris is a problem
Decades of space activity have littered Earth’s
orbit with debris; and as the world’s space-faring nations continue to increase activities in space, so does the chance for a collision. Scientific models estimate the total number of space debris objects in Earth orbit to be more than 170 million for sizes larger than 1 mm, having impact energies comparable to a gun bullet.
It is time to get more in-orbit data on this problem.
About the project
Flying an eagle
Three remarkable partners have teamed up to fly this satellite mission: Findus Venture GmbH as a funding entity, the Austrian Space Forum as a national space research organization and Spire Global Inc., a Silicon-valley based space company operating its own fleet of satellites. The mission “ADLER-1” (Austrian Debris Detection Low Earth (orbit) Reconnoiter) is a 30x10x10 cm cubesat, based on the Spire Lemur-class satellites. Its mission is to study the (micro) space debris environment in Low Earth Orbit to complement the space debris models by obtaining in-situ data. The debris particles will be measured by an active short-range radar provided by Spire, as well as a deployable piezoelectric array provided by the OeWF.
The project has four objectives:
- Demonstrating in-situ space debris measurements from a 3U CubeSat as a precursor studying an ever-increasing problem: Space Debris. ADLER-1 shall demonstrate its capability to contribute to the understanding of this environmental problem.
- Showcase Austria’s Space Ecosystem: Austria partners with Silicon Valley’s SPIRE to tackle the global challenge: Space Debris.
- Inspire local and global community engagement into space applications, data analysis, and university studies
- Showcase "From idea to orbit in 1 year" capability from Spire, underlining a general paradigm shift for space exploration - also in small countries like Austria.
Spire will make their global ground station network available, including flight operations and data management, as well as procure the launch operations. The scientific data will be the bases for various research and art projects. The ADLER-1 satellite is registered in Luxembourg.
(c) ESA
from left: Gernot Groemer (OeWF), Christian Federspiel (Findus Venture Gmbh), Peter Platzer (CEO Spire Global)
(c) OeWF/vog.photo
3U
30x10x10 cubesat size
6 kg
cubesat total mass
500 km
target orbit
12
months in orbit, extendable
Austrian Particle Impact Detector
APID
APID stands for “Austrian Particle Impact Detector” and is a 0,3 m² (tbd) piezoelectric array, where a particle impact triggers an electrical current, providing a measure of the energy. This data can be correlated with velocity vector and position of the cubesat. Technically, it could be considered a “microphone” in space, as mechanical waves create an electrical signal.
The OeWF will deliver the payload and provide instrument support, but will also be responsible for the communication and education efforts of the ADLER-1 mission, as well provide administrative project services.
Selected payload testing will be conducted at the certified labs of Spire in Glasgow, UK.
Active debris detection
Short Range Radar
The second detector is based upon a continuous-wave (CW) radar with a range of approximately 100m for sub-millimetric particles. The radar reflection, including a frequency shift shall detect “near miss” debris particles. CW system is ideal for observing a large range of velocities by measuring the difference in the
frequency between the transmitted and received signals. This instrument is being built by a team under the lead of Spire Global.
With ADLER-1 we will show how an idea can be made spaceflight ready and launched into orbit in the shortest possible time. On average, it takes many years from the first blueprints to the launch of a satellite, but this can also be done much easier and less complicated.
A technology revolution is imminent in space. Austrians and the Austrian economy are already using space technology on a daily basis, e.g. to transmit data for navigation systems or the weather forecast. Access will be even easier in future.
In addition to the Spire Global short-range radar, which can detect particles the size of a grain of sand, the OeWF will build another measuring instrument for even smaller particles. To put it simply, it is a microphone in earth orbit.
Spire Orbital Services
How to get into Orbit
Fast, reliable, and low-cost access to orbit. From in-orbit demonstration to full constellations.
Spire’s Orbital Service is designed to accommodate new customer payloads quickly, allowing for incredibly fast rollout of new capabilities.
Spire’s flexible and consistent launch schedule, as well as its ability to design, assemble, test and operate its LEMUR satellites in-house allows for new bespoke sensors to go from design to launch in just 6 months.
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Low Cost
Significantly lower cost than bespoke satellite developments and dedicated ground segments. Our cutting edge nanosatellite technology and rapid manufacturing accelerate access to orbit and start of customer services -
Fast
Ability to assemble one satellite every 10 days, plus consistent launch schedule ensures design to launch in just 6 months. Spire can also scale up production to deliver full satellite constellations to orbit -
Secure
Full vertical integration ensures a controlled and efficient payload integration process. Spire’s built-in end-to-end data encryption guarantees data pipeline security
Global Network of 30+ ground stations operated by
Spire allows for incredibly low latency and bent-pipe
delivery of payload data to the customer