[1] Located in woodlands near Irbene, in Ventspils Municipality, Latvia, the centre was founded in 1974 by the Soviet military.

It was possibly used by the KGB during the Cold War to spy on communications between Europe and the United States.

[3] It became a scientific research facility in the 1990s,[2] established on 22 July 1994 as part of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, before becoming an independent organisation on 24 April 1996.

The restoration includes re-welding the panels, replacing rusted parts, and repairing damage caused by the passage of time, water ingress and lightning strikes.

The telescope will also be upgraded to enable it to be controlled remotely, and to be able to make more precise and sensitive observations.