We wanted a high-quality foundation for our optical ground station, and this is exactly what Baader brought. We have all the functionalities we would want from a remote-controlled observatory while being able to plug in our own equipment for optical communication, image stabilization, modem technology, etc. Working with Baader throughout this process has been a pleasure and we could not be any more satisfied with the final facility.
Martin Søndergaard – Technician at Satellite Communication and Orbital Mechanics Laboratory
This installation atop the Aerospace Engineering building at Delft University of Technology was particularly challenging, requiring a long-reach crane to place the dome on the high structure. This 3.2m advanced observatory, equipped with a 16" Alluna Ritchey-Chrétien telescope and PlaneWave L-500 Direct Drive Mount, will serve as Optical Ground Station for laser satellite communications and ranging.
The observatory includes advanced equipment such as Baader BHP heavy steel pillar and a Baader IMP 85 Instrument Multi-Port for remote camera switching, mounted on the telescope by a custom-made plate and adaptations. The system is equipped with QHY 268M and QHY 600M Pro cameras, complete with filter wheels and Baader UBVRI filters.
The installation, integrated with the Baader OMS for comprehensive observatory control, aims to enhance global internet speeds and precise satellite positioning, and facilitate research on planetary bodies and phenomena, including icy moons and Martian analogs.
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The Quantum Communications Hub Optical Ground Station (HOGS) aims to be a flexible optical ground station for researchers and innovators in satellite-based optical and quantum communications. The EPSRC Quantum Communications Hub funded it as part of its satellite work package, which will launch a satellite (SPOQC - Space Platform for Optical Quantum Communications) in 2025. Further funding will enable engagement in other missions.
Beyond communications, the system will be used for space-situational awareness and astrophotonics.
Black belt in quantum technology, white belt in astronomy and space
My story with Baader goes back to 2017/18, when I started my academic career in satellite-based quantum communications. I, alongside colleagues, were preparing a grant proposal for a project to fund a ground and space segment to conduct research. At this point, let me highlight that while my colleagues and I are very knowledgeable in photonics and quantum technologies, we are complete amateurs in space and astronomy, meaning our knowledge of telescopes and domes was very low. The head of the company took the time to discuss the ground segment with us, going over the history, benefits, and capabilities of the company's offering. From that initial call, I knew this was the team that would supply us with our dome system.
After the proposal submission, it wasn't until 2019 that we returned to conversations, where the Baader team were very patient with the academic processes for ordering. Finally, we ordered the system in 2021, but with COVID and other delays, we had to delay the delivery of the system until 2023. Baader accommodated the delay by temporarily storing the system at their site.
Due to our delays with the site development, it wasn't until late 2024 that the dome installation took place. The installation team was fantastic and accommodated all our local processes that delayed work starting. The installation was efficient, and training was provided during the handover process.
We have had the system installed for just over a month at the time of writing, and it is a fantastic space to take visitors and conduct work.
Overall, I would highly recommend the Baader systems to those new and experienced. One often under-appreciated value is the product quality and the team involved in the process from order to fabrication to shipping to installation. While other options available to me would have been cheaper, I have seen first-hand the quality of the service/product for teams going down those "money-saving" routes.
I want to highlight my thanks to the Baader team involved. I would 100% go for the system again (and hope to!) Dr. Ross Donaldson – Associate Professor
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„An impressive piece of engineering. In particular, its high rotation speed helps to maximise our productivity, and the adjustable solar shield ensures the protection of the equipment inside the dome as well as allowing observations of satellites during daytime.“
José Carlos Rodríguez – SLR Ingenieur from Yebes Observatory
Note from Baader Planetarium GmbH:
This special type of dome was designed for space and satellite applications. The fast dome rotation allows continuous tracking of satellites with telescopes even in very low orbit. Or of so called "space debris"; i.e. non steerable rocket parts, satellite debris, retired satellites orbiting in orbit and posing a threat to space flight. The station developed for this purpose by the companies DiGOS and TTI on behalf of Yebes Observatory is well protected by our dome.
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I wanted to thank you and your team for the excellent conclusion of the installation of the dome in Ny-Alesund. In spite of some early issues, your team worked very hard to get the installation team on the ground in Ny-Alesund and complete the work on time.
I appreciated that it ended up not too early for us in the US to participate in the acceptance testing. The testing went very well and we and NMA were happy with the results of the test. (...) While it will not be for a while, we do anticipate working together again on additional procurements for other planned observatories that we will build for NASA’s new network of SLR systems. Thank you for making this project successful. It is a pleasure to work with Baader Planetarium.
SCOTT WETZEL, NASA
A significant activity is taking place at the Norwegian Mapping Authority's Ny-Ålesund Geodetic Observatory in Svalbard, Norway. NASA is making progress in the development of a new satellite laser ranging system (SLR) at the observatory. SLR is fundamental to precisely determining the position of retro-reflector equipped satellites which in turn provides important information into the generation of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame and an understanding of where everything is. The measurements made from SLR systems around the world are helping countries make informed decisions about climate, sea rise, and other important major changes that are affecting the Earth. See Video and read more at:space-geodesy.nasa.gov > NSGN > Ny_Alesund
Further details about the system requirements, design specifications, performance metrics, and the benefits of the SGSLR system for global geodetic infrastructure can be found here.
This 2.3m AllSky dome, which is used for Space Surveilance purposes, gives us an entire satisfaction. A warm thank-you to Baader’s Team for their advises, support and professionalism all along the project.
Gautier DURAND
Future Satellite Systems Engineer, Domaine Observation et Science, Thales Alenia Space
Note from Baader Planetarium:
The 2.3m AllSky dome for Thales Alenia Space is the second amongst meanwhile three Baader domes at Plateau de Calern. Indeed, another 2.3m AllSky dome was installed in 2022 for the CNRS (Université Côte d'Azur).
Worlds only COTS-Turnkey-Clamshell-dome for space surveillance purposes that is fully operational within an hour after arrival
Shipping a dome is voluminous and commonly it takes several days/weeks for final assembly. This dome is made to fit into a truck, with all mechanics, electronics, autonomous weather sensors, PC-connection, uninterrupted power supply fully assembled. Just twelve anchor bolts need to be drilled into a prepared concrete slab of 200 cm diameter. Hook up your PC and the dome is ready to go 24/7 – for a lifetime.
We do recommend and invite customers to visit us for the final acceptance test (FAT) prior to shipping the dome, so that all dome functions have been checked, all software is discussed and ready to work, w/o skilled technical personal required on site.
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Our new optical SSA (Space Situational Awareness) station is now up and running at our Western Australia Space Center (WASC). The station, called AWARE, will be used for tracking satellites and space debris in orbit around the planet, contributing to both safer and more sustainable use of near-Earth space.
The station has two telescopes and high-speed cameras that record even very faint reflections of sunlight off satellites. This enables us to survey large numbers of small objects in low-Earth orbit during the night.
The establishment and commissioning of the SSA station was a success. Now begins the exciting times of configuring the remote control and operations environment of the station, calibrating, testing the processing chain and then start conducting joint observation campaigns together with our partners Jacob Ask SSA Program Director at SSC
We are very happy to begin our work towards a safer space environment for future missions.
This special type of dome was designed for space and satellite applications. The fast dome rotation allows the telescope to continuously track even satellites in very low orbits. Likewise, the observation of so-called "space debris" is possible, i.e. non-steerable rocket parts, satellite debris or disused satellites in low earth orbit and posing a danger to space travel. This is precisely the purpose of the station, which was developed by the company DIGOS on behalf of ESA and is now well protected in our dome.
Our installation team had the task of installing one of our HighSpeed domes on the Teide in Tenerife in May 2021. The conditions were almost perfect for the installation of the dome. With temperatures above freezing, the sun shone from a deep blue sky. As usual, the assembly was carried out routinely in four days, of course by the same team that had already assembled and tested this dome at our factory.
Discover the complete installation report with many images and links on our News-Blog
Located in the Texas Davis Mountains on Mount Locke at 2,100m is the famous McDonald-Observatory.
The University of Texas owns and finances the site.
Due to the current construction of SLR stations at NASA for Space Geodesy Satellite Laser Ranging (SGSLR), a 4.2m high-speed dome from Baader Planetarium was installed here in January 2020. This is the second system of its type after the 4.2m Highspeed-Dome at the Goddard Space Flight Center, which was installed in April 2019.
Further details about the system requirements, design specifications, performance metrics, and the benefits of the SGSLR system for global geodetic infrastructure can be found here.
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This dome is the first in a planned global network of SMARTnet™ domes, which the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has commissioned together with the Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern in South Africa.
The task of this 3.5M Baader AllSky dome at the South African Astronomical Observatory is to survey high-altitude objects in the geostationary regime. Through continuous monitoring of the geostationary orbit, the system aims to prevent collisions among the ever-growing number of satellites.
A second 3.5M AllSky dome will be installed in November 2019 in Australia, at Mt. Kent, while a third is planned for 2020/2021 in South America at a location yet to be determined.
Das Deutsche Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR) betreibt sowohl eine stationäre (4.5m Baader AllSky Kuppel) als auch eine transportable optische Bodenstation für die Laser-Kommunikation mit Satelliten direkt auf dem Dach des DLR Institutsgebäudes in Oberpfaffenhofen bei München.
www.baader-observatories.com
