Okno
Russian space surveillance station
title: "Okno" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["russian-space-forces", "military-installations-of-russia", "military-installations-established-in-1999"] description: "Russian space surveillance station" topic_path: "geography/russia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okno" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Russian space surveillance station ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox military installation"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| ensign | File:Russian military space troops flag.svg |
| ensign_size | 90px |
| name | Okno |
| location | Nurak, Tajikistan |
| image | Okno_(10).jpg |
| caption | Okno telescopes |
| map_type | Tajikistan |
| map_alt | Okno in Tajikistan |
| map_caption | Okno in Tajikistan |
| type | Space surveillance facility |
| coordinates | |
| built | |
| builder | Soviet Union/Russia |
| condition | Operational |
| ownership | Russia |
| open_to_public | No |
| controlledby | Russian Space Forces |
| :: |
| ensign = File:Russian military space troops flag.svg | ensign_size = 90px |name = Okno |native_name = |partof = |location = Nurak, Tajikistan |image = Okno_(10).jpg |caption = Okno telescopes |map_type = Tajikistan |map_alt = Okno in Tajikistan |map_caption = Okno in Tajikistan |type = Space surveillance facility |coordinates = |code = |built = |builder = Soviet Union/Russia |materials = |height = |used = |condition = Operational |ownership = Russia |open_to_public = No |controlledby = Russian Space Forces |garrison = Okno ( literally "window", stands for "Оптический контроль небесной области", "Optical control of the celestial region") is a Russian space surveillance station located in Tajikistan. It is run by the Russian Space Forces and is part of the Centre for Outer Space Monitoring. It is located 2216 m above sea level on the Sanglok mountain in Pamirs, an area with clear night skies. Its personnel is stationed in Norak. It is also known as Оптико-электронный комплекс "Нурек".
The facility consists of a number of telescopes in domes and is similar to the US GEODSS system. It is designed for the detection and analysis of space objects such as satellites. The designers were awarded a Russian state prize for science and technology in 2004.
History
The Okno facility was started by the Soviet Union in 1979 using the personnel of No. 14464. All construction stopped in 1992 due to the civil war in Tajikistan and the centre started test operations in 1999 and combat duty in 2004. Ownership of the complex was transferred from Tajikistan to Russia in 2004 in return for the writing off of $242 million USD of Tajikistan's US$299 million debt to Russia.
A Russian-operated space surveillance system located in Tajikistan, Okno-M, has reached its full capacity, making it four times more powerful, the Russian Ministry of Defense reports in July 2015. The surveillance station successfully underwent state tests late in 2014.{{cite news|title=Russian Aerospace Defense Forces Get Improved Surveillance System|date=August 3, 2015|url=https://missiledefenseadvocacy.org/threat-news/russian-aerospace-defense-forces-get-improved-surveillance-system/ |publisher=Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance|access-date=May 14, 2023}}
When it was built it was believed by some in the west to be a military anti-satellite laser facility rather than one for optical tracking. In 1987 John E. Pike of the Federation of American Scientists was quoted as saying "Whether or not this facility will be capable of shooting down satellites or 'Star Wars,' it most certainly is developing the kind of technology that would eventually be able to do so."
Function
Okno is a facility for tracking and monitoring man-made space objects. The Russian military claims that it automatically detects objects at altitudes up to 40000 km. This is above low Earth orbit and includes satellites in medium Earth orbit, geostationary orbit and some in high Earth orbit. It only works at night and works passively by picking up reflected sunlight off objects. After 2014 modernization its range was increased to 50,000 km.
References
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_C9fdT_Ay0 | title = Russia's military window on space | publisher = Russia Today | date = 2008-03-04 | access-date = 2012-03-12 | archive-date = 2010-04-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100411104934/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_C9fdT_Ay0 | url-status = live
|url = http://lenta.ru/world/2004/10/16/nurek/ |script-title = ru:Таджикистан передал России электронную станцию слежения за космосом |publisher = Lenta.ru |language = ru |date = 2004-10-16 |access-date = 2012-03-12 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110218043314/http://lenta.ru/world/2004/10/16/nurek/ |archive-date = 2011-02-18
|url = http://archive.kremlin.ru/text/news/2009/07/220379.shtml |script-title = ru:ТАДЖИКИСТАН. Дмитрий Медведев и Президент Таджикистана Эмомали Рахмон посетили российскую оптико-электронную станцию обнаружения и распознавания космических объектов (ОЭС) "Окно". |publisher = President of Russia |language = ru |date = 31 July 2009 |access-date = 2012-03-12 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141129112259/http://archive.kremlin.ru/text/news/2009/07/220379.shtml |archive-date = 29 November 2014
| url = http://www.heritage.org/research/lecture/red-horizons-the-us-response-to-soviet-military-gains-in-space | title = Red Horizons: The U.S. Response to Soviet Military Gains in Space | publisher = The Heritage Foundation | quote = "massive Soviet laser facility under construction at Dushanbe" | date = 1988-09-14 | author = Robin Ranger | access-date = 2012-11-30 | archive-date = 2021-07-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210712021133/https://www.heritage.org/europe/report/red-horizons-the-us-response-soviet-military-gains-space | url-status = unfit
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/23/us/private-satellite-photos-offer-clues-about-soviet-laser-site.html | title = Private Satellite Photos Offer Clues About Soviet Laser Site | work = New York Times | author = William J Broad | date = 1987-10-23 | access-date = 2012-03-12 | archive-date = 2011-01-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110121092556/http://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/23/us/private-satellite-photos-offer-clues-about-soviet-laser-site.html | url-status = live
| url = http://enews.fergananews.com/article.php?id=1390 | title = Okno ELINT complex in Tajikistan is becoming Russian | publisher = Ferghana Information Agency | date = 2006-04-17 | access-date = 2012-03-13 | archive-date = 2012-04-15 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120415112659/http://enews.fergananews.com/article.php?id=1390 | url-status = live
| url = http://www.structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/cosmic/weapons/more.htm?id=10342893@morfMilitaryModel | title = Оптико-электронный комплекс "Окно" (Optical-Electronic complex "Okno") | language = ru | publisher = Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation | date = n.d. | access-date = 2012-03-17 | archive-date = 2013-01-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130124074220/http://structure.mil.ru/structure/forces/cosmic/weapons/more.htm?id=10342893@morfMilitaryModel | url-status = live
References
- [https://centrasia.org/newsA.php?st=1163794140#gsc.tab=0 Оптико-электронный комплекс "Нурек" на горе Санглох официально перешел от Таджикистана в собственность России]
- ""Окно" в Таджикистане "увидит" объекты в космосе на расстоянии 50 тысяч км — Рамблер/новости".
- (2008-12-30). "Sourcebook on the Okno (в/ч 52168), Krona (в/ч 20096) and Krona-N (в/ч 20776) Space Surveillance Sites". Federation of American Scientists.
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