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\nSitting 2400 m above sea level on the volcanic island of Tenerife, Spain, ESA\u2019s Optical Ground Station keeps watch on the skies.\n<\/p>\n
\nThe 1-m telescope nestled within the dome on the left of this image, spends its time surveying Earth\u2019s local environment for artificial debris<\/a> objects, testing different strategies for observing risky asteroids<\/a> (near-Earth objects) as well as testing and commissioning optical communication satellites. (The telescope is also used for quantum key distribution and feeder-link experiments.)\n<\/p>\n \nPart of the larger Teide Observatory<\/a>, the optical ground station can detect artificial debris objects as small as 10-cm travelling in the \u2018geostationary ring\u2019 \u2013\u00a0 a volume of space that comprises all geostationary orbits suitable for practical use, and one of the most valuable regions in space for telecommunications and Earth observation.\n<\/p>\n \nThe search for fragments in the geostationary ring and a better knowledge of the current debris population are crucial to understand its future evolution, to assess the risk of collisions, and to define suitable and cost-efficient mitigation measures.\n<\/p>\n \nESA\u2019s Space Safety activities are underpinned by such accurate data from observatories around the globe, not only on space debris and asteroids but on our energetic Sun<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n \nFind out more about how ESA works to keep people, life and infrastructure safe, here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n