'Eyes on the Sky: Space Debris and Why We Should Monitor Orbits' is the title of a talk that took place on Monday 20 May 2024 by Mr Miguel Zammit, that centred on the BIRALES and SMARTIES projects.
The BIRALES project uses a ground-based bi-static radar, with the receiving being an adapted radio interferometer located near Bologna. With the SMARTIES project, we plan on using Machine Learning techniques to better improve the detection rate of the instrument. This project is funded by the MCST Space Upstream Programme, and will be held in collaboration with the Malta Astronomical Society.
The presentation, which took place at the Valletta Campus, delved into the nature of space debris, its growing population, and the role of ground-based radars in its detection. The BIRALES radar system in Italy, and the technical aspects of radar operation were explored. Finally, the presentation introduced ongoing research efforts being undertaken by the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy to integrate machine learning algorithms into the BIRALES system, further enhancing its capabilities.
The event was organised by the Institute of Space Sciences and Astronomy in collaboration with the .
