MOSCOW. (Yury Zaitsev for RIA Novosti.)
The Nurek optical-electronic space monitoring center (also called "Okno" or "Window") in Tajikistan is one of Russia's most valuable facilities abroad. Russia is by right proud to have it. Located at the height of 2,200 m above sea level, the center makes effective space monitoring possible, primarily in high elliptical and geostationary orbits (GEO).
The geostationary satellite rotates at the same speed as the planet in a fixed position in relation to the Earth. This is perfect for maintaining round-the-clock communications, strategic radio and radio-technical surveillance, and identification of ballistic missile launches. The military prefer geostationary satellites because they cannot be blocked. The United States and other NATO countries are increasingly using them for military purposes. In 1972, the U.S. had 7.5% of its space vehicles in GEO; in 1993 the number went up to 42%; in 1997 to 62%, and in 2000 to 70%-75%. Today their number is over 80%, which makes monitoring GEO a priority task for the Russian space forces.
"We monitor all space objects larger than 5-10 cm, of which there are about 9,500 according to our data," said Commander of the Russian Space Forces Lt. Gen. Vladimir Popovkin. "Around 600 are operational vehicles. These are military and civilian satellites, as well as communications satellites from different countries."
The Nurek center functions as the eyes of the space forces. This optical system for monitoring space looks like a canon with a short barrel. The system has ten 41-ton "canons" packed with electronics. There will be four more. Its operation is fully automated, starting from the identification of objects at the altitudes of 2,000-40,000 km and above, to collection of information on coordinates and other photometry, calculation of movement parameters, and transfer of the processed data to the command posts. The sunlight reflected by a space vehicle is a source of information about it, up to the minute details of its design, and, hence, designation.
The Nurek center also monitors low-orbit space vehicles at an altitude of 120-2,000 km.
In many respects the potentialities of the system are determined by its unique location. The weather in this mountainous region is ideal for observations throughout the year. In terms of night time observations (about 1,500 hours a year) and its astro-climate (transparency and stability of the atmosphere), the location of the Nurek center is comparable to the Cerro Tololo Mountain in Chile, and has indisputable advantages over any other region.
The Americans have four similar systems along the equator at even distances -- in the United States, Diego Garcia, South Korea, and Hawaii -- but none of these areas has as many clear days per year as Nurek.
The geographic location of the Russian system allows it to detect instantly any US-launched space vehicle to the orbit of over 200 km.
The Nurek center can also perform tasks for civilian space agencies linked with the testing and use of domestic high-orbit space satellites of scientific and socio-economic designation. It is especially useful in emergencies, such as a "loss" of a space vehicle, or failures of orbital systems when it becomes impossible to assess the technical condition of their controls.
The center may be also used for the ecological monitoring of space, namely of "space garbage" - small objects which pose a threat for space vehicles, particularly during manned flights.
It is important to verify whether communications satellites in GEO orbit conform to the international legal standards. The Nurek center and radio-technical observation systems are a major instrument of ensuring Russia's economic and national interests.
The construction of the Nurek center started in 1979, but the financing was suspended in 1992 when the situation in Tajikistan deteriorated. It was resumed in 1997, and since the summer of 2002 the center has been on a test standby alert. During his visit to Dushanbe in October 2004 Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the documents securing Russia's ownership of the center located in Tajikistan.
Yury Zaitsev is an expert of the Institute of Space Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences
