August 16, 2013
Categories: Russia, Satellites, Science

Green Bank observatory antenna received the data from Russian Radiastron (Spektr-R) space telescope for the first time. This new tracking station in other hemisphere enables the scientists to double observation time, – Astro space Centre of Lebedev Physics Institute, the leading scientific agency of the project reports.

“We are glad to inform that the equipment for the station was delivered to the USA and installed on the telescope without any troubles. The first tests of the station showed good results, scientific data from space telescope was recorded on the 1st of August, – the scientists report.

Till now scientific data from Radioastron could be received by single station located in Puschino, Moscow region. As “Radioaston” is out of station’s sight the most of the time, the scientist cannot use these periods for their observations and the equipment just stand idle.

Astro space Centre of Lebedev Physics Institute and National Radio-astronomy Observatory representatives came to an agreement on using 43-meters radio-telescope of Green Bank National Radio-astronomy Observatory (Virginia) for receiving Radiosatron data late 2012. Russian scientists were to deliver radio equipment similar to that installed in Puschino to the USA and adjust it. This work is now complete, capacity level of the signal received exceeds technical requirements, while the frequency of errors is low.

Active observations in the framework of Radioastron key scientific program realization will start by late August. September 2013 new tracking station will operate will work in light mode. Maximum loading of the second tracking station is planned since October 2013.
Radioastron was launched from Baikonur spaceport in July 2011. It is designed for joint operation withabove-ground radio-telescopes network forming single interferometer of high angle resolution (up to 7 microseconds).

More from this category:
October 9, 2020

Aaccording to the ISS flight program next Wednesday Soyuz MS-17 spacecraft will be launched from Baikonur by Soyuz-2.1a booster. On October 07 the crews conducted…

full story
August 21, 2013

On August 20, 2013 GCTC saw Main Medical Commission meeting. The meeting analyzed the data of Russian crew members of 37/38 ISS mission received during…

full story
November 3, 2020

Roscosmos approved the first completely Russian ISS crew to go to the ISS aboard Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft in April 20201. Cosmonauts selection commission approved the…

full story
February 6, 2020

According to ISS flight program Soyuz MS-13 crew comprising commander Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano and NASA female astronaut Christina Koch successfully…

full story
February 11, 2014

Preparations for the first Proton mission of this year proceed as scheduled. A Proton is to orbit the 5000-kg Turkish TurkSat 4A satellite by mid-February….

full story
November 22, 2021

Rocket Soyuz-2.1b to orbit new Prichal module of Russian ISS segment planned to be launched on November 24 was successfully rolled out and installed onto…

full story
October 25, 2021

Soyuz-2.1a booster with Progress MS-18 was rolled out from the integration building installed on the launchpad.  The rocket was decorated with Gorodets painting  to celebrate…

full story
November 28, 2013

3 launches of GLONASS navigational system satellites are planned for 2014, – Aerospace Defense Force commander major-general Alexander Golovko stated. The commander specified that 3…

full story