The World Space Observatory, also known as World Space Observatory-Ultraviolet (WSO-UV), is a proposed space telescope intended for work in the 110 nm to 320 nm wavelength range. The launch is planned for 2015.

The observatory

The main instrument of the observatory is 1.7-metre Ritchey-Chretien telescope. The telescope will be equipped by the following instruments:

• HIRDES (High-Resolution Double Echelle Spectrograph): R~55000 spectroscopy of point sources in the 102-320 nm range (Germany)
• LSS: Long-slit low-resolution (R~2500) spectroscopy in the 102-320 nm range
• ISSIS (Imaging and Slitless Spectroscopy Instrument for Surveys) being developed to carry out UV and optical diffraction limited imaging of astronomical objects. The ISSIS incorporates three channels:High Sensitivity Far-UV Channel: 120-200 nm; Channel for Surveys (FUV): 120-600 nm, optimized for 120-270 nm; Channel for Surveys (UVO): 120-600 nm, optimized for 270-600 nm. (Spain)

Participating nations

This international project is led by Russia (Roskosmos).
At present the international cooperation includes three basic participants:
Russia ( will provide the telescope, spacecraft, launch facilities, ground segment); Spain (ISSIS, ground segment); Germany (spectrographs). Ukraine and Kazakhstan also participate the project.