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5d ago

ESA’s CREAM System Advances to Pilot Testing Ahead of In-Orbit Trials

With its ground-based prototype generating real-time avoidance proposals, ESA is preparing piggyback digital-payload trials, a dedicated orbital demonstration mission.

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Overview

  • Earth’s orbit now hosts over 11,000 active satellites and more than 1.2 million debris fragments, creating daily collision risks for operators.
  • Prototype modules from GMV and Guardtime have been integrated into a unified ground system that is already issuing collision alerts and avoidance manoeuvre proposals.
  • Ground system tests have entered a key phase and will feed into expanded pilot operations featuring enhanced decision-support and stakeholder coordination tools.
  • Planned in-orbit trials include piggybacking the CREAM software as a digital payload on partner spacecraft and launching a dedicated demonstration mission.
  • By automating risk estimation and standardizing protocols, CREAM aims to reduce operator workload, cut false alerts and underpin future space traffic management frameworks.