In October 2024 we reported on the Bundeswehr contract under which Baader Planetarium will deliver two 6.15-meter slit domes complete with one-meter telescopes as a turnkey solution for the new Optical Space Surveillance System.
Two 6.15m slit domes each with a 1m telescope for Bundeswehr space surveillance project - Baader Planetarium supplies two 6.15-meter slit domes and 1-meter telescopes for the German Armed Forces' space surveillance project. PlaneWave Instruments' precision telescopes and Teledyne's advanced CMOS cameras enable monitoring of objects in low Earth and geostationary orbits. » Read the full reportToday we are delighted to share the latest milestone: both domes were installed on schedule in early July—under (still) brilliant sunshine.
Topping-out ceremony on July 30th, 2025
On 30 July, representatives of the Bundeswehr, steep GmbH (main contractor), Rosenberger GmbH (construction company) and members of our Baader team celebrated the topping-out ceremony at the Meßstetten military training area. The two towers erected for the space surveillance system were formally inaugurated and handed over to the end-user with best wishes. The facility was presented to numerous guests from the Bundeswehr, industry and the media. Südwestrundfunk (SWR) covered the ceremony and the future significance of the installation for Germany’s security architecture:
? SWR report (german)
Beneath the freshly raised wreath on the five-metre tower next to the 6.15 m slit dome, Lieutenant Colonel Stephan Huland emphasised the importance of this first visible step towards a national space-situational-awareness network. For us, the event was also the right moment to acknowledge the smooth installation of the two domes: from unloading the large, heavy dome segments to the first opening and closing of the slit, everything went exactly according to plan. Installing two domes of this size with a large assembly team in just one working week is the result of precise pre-fabrication in Mammendorf and close coordination with the customer and Rosenberger on site.
Looking ahead
Towards the end of the year, the two one-meter reflector telescopes for acquisition and tracking will be installed inside the domes. Calibration, software integration via Webservatory by our software partner sciencentric AG, and trial operations will follow from January 2026. Final hand-over to the Bundeswehr is scheduled for May 2026.
Baader Planetarium would like to thank all partners for their seamless cooperation. We look forward to writing a new chapter of German space history on the ground together—and will keep you informed here about the next steps.
Impressions of the dome installation
