Case Study: Austrian Space Forum achieves an 80% increase in micro-debris detection with Spire's ADLER-2

Austrian Space Forum - Customer Case Study

The Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), a leader in analog and interdisciplinary space research, needed better in‑orbit measurements of micro‑scale space debris because ground‑based sensors and models only tell part of the story. To avoid the high cost and time of building its own infrastructure, OeWF partnered with Spire, leveraging Spire’s Space As A Service (SPaaS) and LEMUR 6U satellite bus after the success of the ADLER‑1 CubeSat to field next‑generation in‑situ debris monitoring.

Spire is delivering the ADLER‑2 nanosatellite mission, which combines an enhanced debris‑detection radar, the OeWF APID impact sensor and an optical aerosol sensor, plus a Tilebox data pipeline expected to transmit about two million data sets. Spire’s ADLER‑2 is projected to increase debris detection by 80%, double the number of observations logged (with a sixfold larger impact panel spanning 2 m), and provide the new in‑situ data needed to materially improve space situational awareness and debris models.

Austrian Space Forum

Gernot Grömer

Director