NASASpaceFlight.com Forum

Robotic Spacecraft (Astronomy, Planetary, Earth, Solar/Heliophysics) => Space Science Coverage => Topic started by: Tywin on 03/05/2023 03:11 pm

Title: Why nobody create a new RadioAstrom?
Post by: Tywin on 03/05/2023 03:11 pm

Why didn't any space agency develop a radio astronomy telescope for space?

With the amount of SAR companies and new radio antenna satellites, it should be very cheap no?

Title: Re: Why nobody create a new RadioAstrom?
Post by: Hobbes-22 on 03/05/2023 08:16 pm

Radio astronomy benefits from having very large antennas, which are difficult to package in a small spacecraft.
Most radio frequencies make it to the ground without atmospheric attenuation, which makes it less necessary to put a telescope in space.
The biggest benefit would be VLBI with a longer baseline.

Title: Re: Why nobody create a new RadioAstrom?
Post by: Phil Stooke on 03/05/2023 08:41 pm

"The biggest benefit would be VLBI with a longer baseline. "

This is what Queqiao is doing, or is intended to do, is it not?

Title: Re: Why nobody create a new RadioAstrom?
Post by: Hobbes-22 on 03/06/2023 07:25 am

Yes. AIU, RadioAstron also did some VLBI.