14 DAY TRIAL // Officials at the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announce that their newly developed Space Surveillance Telescope (SST) has been approved for relocation in Australia. Using this vantage point in the southern hemisphere, the new technology observatory will keep track of space debris, junk, and other dangerous objects in orbit.
The SST was developed after the US Department of Defense (DOD) made situational awareness of space a top priority. This measure was taken as the dangers to newly launched rockets increase. Geosynchronous orbits 35,400 kilometers (22,000 miles) above the surface are particularly dangerous.
The SST was developed with a host of new technologies enabling it to keep track of objects just a few centimeters across at such huge distances. However, the northern hemisphere does not provide an excellent view of the night sky. This is why US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Australian Defense Minister David Johnston signed an agreement to relocate the telescope on November 20, 2013.
“This telescope provides highly accurate detection, tracking, and identification of deep space objects, and will further strengthen our existing space cooperation. All of these steps are helping strengthen our alliance as we continue to work together to face the challenges and opportunities of this new century,” Hagel said at the event.