A number of nations have been launching satellites into the geosynchronous orbit above the Earth. This has increased the possibility of a couple of them colliding in space. To ensure that this catastrophe does not occur the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA has come up with a solution.

They have developed a Space Surveillance Telescope that watches out for the satellites floating 22,000 miles above the surface of the planet in their orbits. The SST  has the job of discovering, identifying, and tracking orbiting objects in space. It is also going to keep an eye open for objects coming in from outer space.

After having being tested on a New Mexican mountain the SST will now be shifted to its permanent location in the Harold E. Holt Naval Communication Station in Exmouth, Western Australia,  as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the US and Australia last month. This position will give it an astonishing view of the relatively less viewed southern hemispheric space.

The SST which is owned by the US Navy will be delivered by DARPA to the location in Australia and will then be operated by the Australian government. The operations of this combined science project will begin next year and will be available online in 2016.