The European Science Foundation (ESF) acts as a catalyst for the development of science by bringing together leading scientists and funding agencies to debate, plan and implement pan-European scientific and science policy initiatives.
The ESF is the association of its 67 major national funding agencies devoted to scientific research in 24 countries. The ESF brings European scientists together to work on topics of common concern, to coordinate the use of expensive facilities, and to discover and define new endeavors that will benefit from a co-operative approach.
The ESF represents all scientific disciplines: the natural sciences, the medical and biosciences, the humanities and the social sciences.
The ESF links scholarship and research supported by its Members and adds value by cooperation and coordination across national frontiers. Through its function as coordinator, and also by holding workshops and conferences and by enabling researchers to visit and study in laboratories throughout Europe, the ESF works for the advancement of European science.

On behalf of European radio astronomers, the ESF Committee on Radio Astronomy Frequencies, CRAF, coordinates activities to keep the frequency bands used by radio astronomers free from interference.

Leeheim Satellite Monitoring Station

The Leeheim Satellite Monitoring Station of the German Administration, Bundesnetzagentur, is located at about 35 km south-west of Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It is also operated by the German Administration as a European facility under a Memorandum of Understanding of CEPT administrations. The station has fully steerable parabolic antennas of up to 12 meter diameter and is capable to track and monitor space systems to investigate whether their transmissions comply with international and regional regulations.

The number of space systems in orbit increases gradually and consequentially also the need for radio frequencies allocated to space services is increasing. Forward-looking and coordinated planning procedures for the use of the radio frequency spectrum are therefore assuming more and more importance. The probability of radio interference increases at the same time. The possibility of effectively limiting the risk of interference by technical means is of great significance in economic terms to both operators and users.

The Leeheim radio monitoring station is operated by the Federal Network Agency for Electricity, Gas, Telecommunications, Post and Railway (Bundesnetzagentur), the executive authority in the Federal Republic of Germany which not only is responsible for the assignments of radio frequencies for commercial purposes, but also providing for the restriction and elimination of radio interference on the basis of international agreements and national legislation.

Functions of the Leeheim monitoring station

General frequency spectrum occupancy observations reveal the actual use of the frequency spectrum, including transponder occupancy and occupancy of the geostationary orbit.

Specific frequency occupancy observations undertaken at special request, for example in conjunction with coordination procedures, eanble potential interference to be detected early on during the planning stage of satellite systems and thereby avoided.

Field research could support the optimization of theoretical models, to enlighten the use of the same frequencies by space and terrestrial services.

Observations of frequencies for telemetry and telecommand before the start guarantee the successful positioning of geostationary satellites.

Investigation of satellite transponder use from the perspective of the regulatory authority to ensure that the satellite industry follows proper international advance publication, coordination and notification.

Activities on detected sources of interference that else would harm the operations of space and terrestrial services.

parameter
antenne 1
antenne 2
antenne 3
antenne 4
(planned)
frequency bands (GHz)
1.5 - 1.8
3.2 - 4.2
0.13 - 1.0
1.0 - 26.5
2.1 - 2.3
4.3 - 8.5
10.7 - 12.75
antenna type
Cassegrain
Cassegrain
dipole array
prime focus
antenna size
12 m Ø
8.5 m Ø
2.4 * 2.4 m
(3 fields of 2; 4 and 16 crossed dipoles)
6 m Ø
antenna gain (dBi)
44 - 61
49
10 - 18
32 - 58
G/T (dBK-1)
17 - 34
28
-
12 - 34
max. angular velocity

 

 

 

(altazimuth)
- Azimuth (°/s)
16
5
10
X axis: 3.5
- Elevation (°/s)
3.5
5
10
Y axis: 3.5
max. acceleration (°/s2)
10
5
10
3.5
antenna steering
manual, computer-controlled, autotracking
manual, computer-controlled
manual, computer-controlled
manual, computer-controlled
Doppler compensation (kHz)
±40
±40
±40
±40
measurement error:
- power flux density (dB)
- frequency

 

 

 

 

±1.5
±1.5
±2
±1
1*10-9
1*10-9
1*10-9
1*10-9

 

The station's measurement equipment

Antenna 1, a 12m parabolic reflector, is in principle a broadband antenna for 1-13 GHz. Frequency band units with optimized characteristics, together with a high degree of angle measurement accuracy, are a pre-requisite for the so-called monopulse tracking procedure in the 1.5 - 1.8 GHz, 2.1 - 2.3 GHz and 10.95 - 11.8 GHz frequency bands. These band units are fixed units. An adjustable deflecting mirror allows for switching between the bands.

The relatively large range 4.3 - 8.5 GHz of antenna 1 does not allow monopulse-tracking. However, all four antennas have a computer-controlled tracking facility for all frequency bands.

Polarization tracking is possible in all the frequency bands covered by Antennas 1 and 3. Each type of polarization - from linear to circular - is determined by means of two angle values, namely the ellipticity and the position of the major axis. The system works dynamically, tracking the rotation of the major axis at a speed of up to 10 revolutions/s.

By virtue of their high rotating speed around the Azimuth and Elevation axes, all antenna are also able to track non-geostationary satellites (LEO, GEO, HEO).

Measurement parameters

The station can determine a range of transmission characteristics, such as:

In addition also the orbital elements of space objects can be determined, in order to identify e.g. interference from unknown space systems.

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