ISRO to set up optical telescope at Ladakh’s Hanle

Srinagar, Aug 20: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is setting up an optical telescope at Hanle, Ladakh, under its Network for Space Object Tracking and Analysis project, to track satellites and space debris in the geostationary orbit.According to details available with Rising Kashmir, ISRO has also initiated a series of remote sensing and modelling projects tailored for Ladakh to address climate change, resource management, and natural hazard risks in the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.Among these projects, the Ladakh Specific Modelling and Space Applications programme is conducting scientific studies of natural resources, environment, and climate change across the UT, supported by a customised geoportal for dynamic assessment.Similarly, the Geo-Ladakh Spatial Data Infrastructure is building a comprehensive database to support agriculture and horticulture management, artificial glaciers, renewable energy harvesting, and flood hazard mapping.Satellite applications are also shaping urban planning in Ladakh. Under AMRUT-1.0, ISRO created a large-scale geospatial database for Leh and Kargil towns to support GIS-based master plans, while AMRUT-2.0 focuses on a waterbody information system for both towns. A separate Land Use and Land Cover Change Analysis project is assessing shifts on a 1:50,000 scale for the years 2020–21 and 2025–26.Officials said Ladakh is already covered by 12 operational Indian communication satellites and multiple remote sensing platforms, including Cartosat, Resourcesat, RISAT, Oceansat, and INSAT. These platforms are enhancing telecommunication, broadband connectivity, and natural hazard monitoring in the Union Territory.The UT has also been included in ISRO’s Mountain Ecosystem Studies of North-West Himalaya, which monitors natural hazards and geodynamics in the Himalayan belt. Data from these studies, officials said, is already being shared with nodal ministries and disaster management authorities to improve preparedness.While the government has not announced a dedicated space research centre for Ladakh, the Hanle telescope is being seen as a milestone investment. “The telescope will not only add to India’s space situational awareness but also reinforce Ladakh’s emerging role as a hub for high-altitude astronomy,” officials said.