China has began the construction of a survey telescope array, which will be mainly used to detect space debris in medium and high orbits.
Lei Chengming, a researcher at the Purple Mountain Observatory of Chinese Acadamy of science, said on Wednesday that the construction began in Northwest China’s Qinghai Province.
“The multi-application survey telescope array has an average altitude of 3,800 meters above sea level.
“The telescope’s spectrum is expected to fill China’s gap in this technology and is slated for completion by 2023.https://scudnewsng.com
“The survey telescope array can detect small space debris and determine its orbit and operation law.
“As a result of that it will provide early warnings and make it possible to avoid debris collisions that are threatening the safety of spacecraft,’’ he said.
The executive deputy director of the Lenghu Industrial Park Management Committee, Tian Cairang, said that Lenghu has become an astronomical observation base that now hosts six scientific research units and eight telescope projects.
He said that Lenghu is expected to become the largest astronomical observation base in China and a world-class astronomical research centre in future.
“The town, with a total area of 17,800 square km, is located 944 km away from Qinghai’s capital of Xining.
“ Its clear nights meet the conditions for a world-class observatory site,’’ Cairang said.
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