Helix: multi-orbital space surveillance service
Space systems have become indispensable for the functioning of our modern societies. With the democratisation of access to space and the arrival of mega-constellations, the number of objects in orbit, including satellites and debris, is increasing massively. In this context, mapping, cataloguing and identifying these objects and predicting their trajectories are major challenges for civil and defence sectors, faced with the absolute necessity of protecting their satellites against all types of threats. To respond to this vital need, ArianeGroup has established its Helix space surveillance service.
Helix, Europe’s first private space surveillance network
The Helix space surveillance service developed and operated by ArianeGroup is used to detect, track and characterise space objects. With permanent 24/7 surveillance, it provides extremely precise positioning and orbit tracking data for space objects in low Earth, medium Earth and geostationary orbits. The Helix service issues an alert in the event of any unusual behaviour and enables government actors and commercial civil operators to take appropriate steps to protect their satellites from the risk of collision or interference.
Helix is Europe’s largest private telescope network. Entirely developed, deployed and managed by ArianeGroup, the system comprises a command and control (C2) centre connected to a network of 25 optical and infrared surveillance stations spread around the world – planned to grow to 30 by 2025. In order to permanently upgrade its catalogue of objects in space, the Helix network includes laser ranging and imaging capabilities. Increasing the number of stations and enhancing detection capacity is so that Helix will be able to address future challenges linked to the acceleration and densification of space activities.
Services for defence and civil players
In recent years, examples of hostile manoeuvres in space have become more numerous. Since 2017, the French Ministry for the Armed Forces has been using the services of ArianeGroup as the trusted operator of the Helix network on behalf of the Air and Space Force’s Space Command (CDE). ArianeGroup offers similar secure services, either turnkey or customised, for countries with which France has close relations in the space sector, as well as for commercial satellite operators.
Faced with the challenges arising from the militarisation of space, the European Union also launched several Space Situational Awareness (SSA) projects financed through the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP). In this framework, ArianeGroup was selected in 2021 to coordinate the Sauron project, which aims to develop innovative sensors to characterise and identify satellites in orbit. ArianeGroup is also involved in the Integral project to design the software for collaborative networking of the national operational space surveillance centres in the European Union.
Unique-in-Europe capabilities
Surveillance of satellites and space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO) and geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) with high-precision orbit determination.
Catalogue of positioning, orbit tracking and space objects analysis data, with high-precision orbit determination.
Customised, secure operational services and products, 24/7, day and night.
Services tailor-made to the needs of civil and defence satellite operators: surveillance of space assets, identification and cataloguing of objects, photometric characterisation, space traffic management, detection of manoeuvres, decision-making aids, anti-collision services.
Turnkey system: command and control centre and stations.
