European technology is making it easier to catch signals from speeding satellites. SARAS -- a Spanish acronym for 'Fast Acquisition of Satellites and Launchers' -- enables ground stations to acquire signals from newly launched satellites faster and more accurately than ever before.<br /><br />The system comprises a circular array of eight small radio-frequency sensors<br />that are mounted around the rim of an existing dish antenna. The system was<br />fitted to the 15 m-diameter tracking station at ESA's ESAC Establishment, seen here during upgrade work, in 2013.<br /><br />Since then, it has been extensively tested and validated, helping acquire signals from current and newly launched missions including CryoSat-2, XMM, GOCE and Swarm. It also helps the station to acquire signals from multi-satellite missions, such as the three-craft SWARM mission.<br /><br />ESA/Isdefe/Rafael Leon
