International Scientific Optical Network and UN Basic Space Science Initiative (ISON

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International Scientific Optical Network andUN
Basic Space Science Initiative(ISONBSSI)
Vladimir Agapov and Igor Molotov

• Outreach seminar
• in margins of
• 55th session of Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
  Outer Space 11 June 2012

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International Scientific Optical Network
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International Scientific Optical Network (ISON)

• Open non-government scientific project having
  goals
• to support existing and establishing new
  telescope facilities worldwide
• to enhance the international collaboration in
  optical observation of celestial objects between
  observatories in developing nations and
  scientific organization in industrialized
  countries
• to provide significant scientific output in 3
  key areas of research space debris, asteroids
  and GRB afterglows
• Cooperation already joins 31 observation
  facilities of various affiliation (Academy of
  Sciences, Universities, Scientific Institutions,
  Private Companies) in 14 countries
• Coordinated by the Keldysh Institute of Applied
  Mathematics of the Russian Academy of Sciences
  (KIAM) and maintained with participation of ASC
  Project-technics and ISON-Skolkovo

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Examples of ISON activities in developing nations
left 40-cm telescope in Uzbekistan center
25-cm telescope in Moldova (top) and CCD-camera
in Vietnam (bottom) right equipment for
modernization of 60-cm telescope in Tadjikistan
is on the way, 25-cm telescope in Bolivia is
ready to observe
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Typical ISON telescopes19-cm VT-78e, 25-cm
ORI-25, 40-cm ORI-40
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Forms of collaboration within ISON project

• Participation in regular ISON coordinated
  observations
• Joint observation and data analysis campaigns,
  exchange
• the obtained results
• Arrangement of ISON resources for observations
  under
• specific scientific goal or program
• Providing software tools, elaborated under ISON
  project,
• for further coordinated activities
• Installation of telescopes, elaborated under
  ISON project
• Modernization of non-operational obsolete
  telescopes
• Production of telescope under joint grant
• Education and training (including special
  workshops)

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The most recently opened ISON observation
facility in Mexico joint project with
Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa
left dome with 25-cm telescope in Cosalá,
Sinaloa (Mexico) center the commemorative
plaque right outreach and educational seminar at
the facility bottom the telescope and numerous
visitors at the opening ceremony
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ISON workshops
left Oct 2009 ISON workshop participants. The
workshop took place in Andrushivka observatory,
Ukraine. right Nov 2011 ISON workshop
participants. The workshop took place in
Verbilki, Moscow region, Russia.
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The UN General Assembly Resolution 62/117 (1
February 2008)?
The General Assembly, Considering, that
space debris is an issue of concern to all
nations, 28. Considers that it is
essential that Member States pay more attention
to the problem of collisions of space objects,
including those with nuclear power sources, with
space debris, and other aspects of space debris,
calls for the continuation of national research
on this question, for the development of
improved technology for the monitoring of space
debris and for the compilation and dissemination
of data on space debris, also considers that, to
the extent possible, information thereon should
be provided to the Scientific and Technical
Subcommittee, and agrees that international
cooperation is needed to expand appropriate and
affordable strategies to minimize the impact of
space debris on future space missions
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ISON leading international project in
observational research of space debris at high
near-Earth orbits

• 1704 GEO and 1585 HEO region objects were in the
  ISON database as of 31.12.2011
• 54 new GEO and 18 HEO region fragments are
  already discovered in 2012
• ISON maintains the largest in the world database
  on orbital and other information for unique GEO
  space debris objects having high area-to-mass
  ratio value
• Results obtained by ISON are presenting to IADC
  annually
• Success of the ISON project proved feasibility of
  creation of international observation network and
  data centre (similar to the Minor Planet Centre)
  on space debris information for high altitude
  (GEO, MEO, GTO and other HEO) objects in full
  compliance with the UN General Assembly
  Resolution 62/217

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Quantity of measurements accumulated by ISON
participating instruments
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Distribution of observing GEO objects by RAAN
and inclination
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ISON project presentations to STSC COPUOS

• Results of GEO region artificial objects
  population research and proposal for organization
  of cooperative international GEO space debris
  monitoring. Presentation to the 44th Session of
  the COPUOS STSC , 12-23 February, 2007, Vienna
• International scientific optical observation
  network (ISON) for the near-Earth space
  surveillance results of the first years of work
  and plans for the future. Presentation to the
  45th session of the COPUOS STSC, 11-22 February
  2008, Vienna
• Estimation of current status of geostationary
  orbit based on results of research in the
  framework of ISON international project.
  Presentation to the 46th session of the COPUOS
  STSC, 9 - 20 February 2009 , Vienna
• GEO protected region ISON capabilities to
  provide informational support for tasks of
  spacecraft flight safety and space debris
  removal. Presentation to the 47th session of the
  COPUOS STSC, 8 - 19 February 2010 , Vienna
• Review of events occurred in geostationary region
  in 2010 based on data obtained by ISON
  international network. Presentation to the 48th
  session of the COPUOS STSC, 7-18 February 2011,
  Vienna.
• Results of GEO and HEO space debris
  population research and asteroids study within
  the framework of ISON international project in
  2011. Presentation to the 49th session of the
  COPUOS STSC, 6-17 February 2012, Vienna

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ISON and BSSI - similar aims and ways

• Both BSSI and ISON are a long-term efforts for
  the development of astronomy and space science
  through regional and international cooperation in
  this field on a worldwide basis, particularly in
  developing nations. Material for teaching and
  observing programs for small optical telescopes
  were developed or recommended and astronomical
  telescope facilities have been inaugurated in a
  number of nations
• 7 optical telescopes CCD cameras and 20
  planetariums are installed in 22 countries under
  Official Development Assistance (ODA) program of
  BSSI
• 25 optical telescopes, 43 CCD-cameras, various
  other equipment and special software tools are
  installed in 14 countries (Bolivia, Georgia,
  Italy, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,
  Russia, Spain, Tajikistan, Vietnam, Ukraine, USA,
  Uzbekistan) under ISON project and there are
  plans to start collaboration with teams in
  another 9 countries (Argentina, Armenia,
  Azerbaijan, Brazil, Chile, Namibia, South
  Africa, Venezuela)

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ISON and UN BSSI

• Joining efforts
• Involvement of new countries (mainly developing
  nations)
• Enlarging quantity of telescopes participating in
  Observing Program of BSSI
• Adding new topical goals to Observing Program of
  BSSI such as space debris, asteroids, gamma ray
  burst afterglows etc.
• Development of an international database on space
  debris