Russia restores decommissioned Soviet satellite network to monitor near-Earth objects

Sputnik
Sat, 25 Aug 2018 16:24 UTC

© CC0 / Pixabay

Map of near-Earth objects in orbit around Earth

Russia has restored a global network of mothballed Soviet observatories to monitor near-Earth objects, according to a report by a state research institute.

The document, obtained by Sputnik from Keldysh Institute of Applied Mathematics, said observatories had been brought out of mothballs in former Soviet member states, Bolivia and Switzerland.

Additional eight outposts were set up in Russia's east, Moldova and Mexico to cover the entire geostationary orbit above Earth's equator.

The network keeps track of over 5,000 identified near-Earth objects in its database, including spacecraft and space debris, and collects data on new launches.

Previously, S7 Space General Director Sergey Sopov said that the company was planning to build a plant in the city of Samara to produce Soviet-designed NK-33 and NK-43 rocket engines for super heavy-lift launch vehicles. The company planned to purchase production capacities from the state-owned United Engine Corporation for this purpose.

Comment: Now why would Russia be doing this now? Are they aware of un-publicized threats?

• Near-Earth Object Protection: NASA or Defense Department Mission?
• U.S. urged to prepare for asteroid strike
• CNN suddenly concerned about very real threat of asteroid impacts amid government shutdown
• Russia building dozens of underground nuclear bunkers, reports US intel
• World space agencies gather to discuss what to do about asteroid threat