Russian scientists plan project to detect space threats

Moscow, Dec 1 (IANS/TASS) Russian scientists plan to create a space observatory which can spot asteroids measuring over 50 metres at a distance of one astronomical unit and other space objects a decametre in size, similar to the Chelyabinsk meteorite, in the near Earth orbits.

An astronomical unit measures roughly the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

The project is being developed by the Astronomy Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Kometa Corporation.

"We have been advocating the project as a Russian one, which might (however) be integrated into world systems of mass detection and monitoring of hazardous space objects," said Boris Shustov, director of the Astronomy Institute.

Shustov expressed the hope that Roscosmos, the Russian federal space agency, would support the project of creating a system for detection of space threats.

--IANS/TASS

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