Armenian Observatory to monitor space debris in 2012

A new program kicks off at the Byurakan Observatory, with the support of Russian Federal Space Agency, to monitor space debris. It will start next January 2012, head of the Observatory Hayk Harutyunyan told journalists today.

The Observatory will be included in the global network, currently monitoring space debris and working on the prevention of dangerous situations in the near-Earth space.

More than ten states applied for an opportunity to participate in the program, which is sponsored by the UN.

The project, which is initiated by Russian Federal agency Rossotrudnichestvo (Russian State Cooperation), will be funded by the Russian Space Agency (ROSCosmos) and a total of $2 million will be invested.

This will enable five small telescopes to be purchased within the framework of the project.