Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32607: High-Altitude Watch: Uragan-Pamir and the Monitoring of Mountain Disasters

Mountainous regions like the Pamirs are beautiful but dangerous. Avalanches, landslides, and floods are common, and the remoteness makes monitoring difficult. That’s why the Uragan-Pamir experiment was so important—it brought the eyes of space to high-altitude risk zones.

Led by Lev Desinov and his team at the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, this experiment focused on real-time observation of the Pamir region from the ISS. Its goal: to spot early warning signs of geological or climate-related events.

Using high-resolution cameras on the ISS, astronauts captured data over mountain valleys and glaciers. This data was sent to Earth where it was analyzed for shifts in snowpack, water flow, and terrain. When a dangerous pattern was detected—like increased snowmelt or ground instability—local authorities could be alerted.

What makes space-based monitoring powerful is its consistency and coverage. Unlike aircraft or drones, the ISS follows a predictable orbit and can return to the same area frequently, building a historical record.

Uragan-Pamir also taught us that space research doesn’t stay in space. Its results informed public safety plans, environmental studies, and even inspired students to learn about Earth science from a new angle—looking down from above.

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