Photo: ISRO

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) announced May 5 it signed an MoU with Bengaluru and Central University of Himachal Pradesh (CUHP), Dharamshala for co-operation in the areas of space situational awareness (SSA), astronomy, and astrophysics.

This MoU will pave the way for future collaborations between ISRO and CUHP in establishing the observational facilities, specifically ground-based optical sensors for space object tracking, deep space exploration, R&D related to astrophysics and near Earth objects (NEO).

ISRO says continuous analysis of the collision threats posed by growing number of space objects will be essential to safeguard Indian space assets in the future. It believes Indian space activities require tracking and monitoring these objects with the help of observational facilities. This has led to mounting interest in SSA and need for capabilities to track and monitor not just the operational satellites but non-functional uncontrolled space debris.