Greece plans to use satellites to fight illegal immigration

Greece is considering launching a network of 12 lightweight satellites into orbit primarily to monitor Greece's borders for illegal immigration and unlicensed construction, local media reported on Saturday.

A government source, quoted by the English-language daily Kathimerini, said a scientific study on the proposed satellite network has been submitted to the Security Research Center of the Public Order Ministry.

The ministry is in favor of the plan but is currently weighing other aspects of the project, including related costs and development issues. The report did not specify costs of the plan.

The network of satellites would revolve between 400 to 800 kilometers above the earth -- much lower than other satellites, which usually orbit at about 36,000 kilometers, said the report.

The satellites will be neither expensive nor "bulky" as they will weigh about 50 kilograms or slightly more, depending on the satellite's program, it added.

One of the network's main duties will be to monitor the country's borders for illegal immigrants.

Each year, Greece catches thousands of illegal immigrants trying to sneak into the country as a means of moving on to other parts of Western Europe.

The migrants, who hail from countries such as Iraq, often fall victim to human smugglers and enter the country under dangerous conditions.

The satellites will also be able to spot illegal buildings thathave gone up without necessary state permits.

Illegally constructed homes are a regular feature of the local real estate market and have been blamed for spurring arsonists to burn forested areas near cities each summer.

The network will also be used to help determine where the country's oil wealth lies.

Source: Xinhua