ASTRO-ARRAY: a space-based, coherent radio interferometer array. Memorandum report

Technical Report · Thu Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6132213

Weiler, K W; Spencer, J H; Johnston, K J

With the proven techniques of radio astronomy and the rapidly advancing technology of space science, it is clear that the expansion of radio astronomy arrays beyond the limits of the Earth's surface is called for. Therefore, a preliminary discussion of the design and capability fo a purely space based array is presented. The science which can be done with such a high resolution, high sensitivity radio telescope array is discussed and a number of the parameters of a system are developed. A coherent interferometer array is possible with reasonable extensions of parameters of a system are developed. A coherent interferometer array is possible with reasonable extensions of parameters of a system are developed. A coherent interferometer array is possible with reasonable extensions of present technology and such a telescope will lead to major advances ind the areas of astrometry, the study of radio stars and radio supernovae, the investigation of astronomical masers, and the determination of the properties of the Milky Way nucleus and the active regions of normal galaxies, radio galaxies, and quasars. It is clear that an array of high orbit radio antennas linked to the low orbit Space Station represents the next logical step in the progression to continually higher resolution and sensitivity for radio astronomy.

• Research Organization: Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6132213
• Report Number(s): AD-A-160763/9/XAB; NRL-MR-5657
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640100* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
AMPLIFIERS
ANTENNAS
ASTRONOMY
COSMIC RADIO SOURCES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
GALAXIES
INTERFEROMETERS
MASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MICROWAVE AMPLIFIERS
MICROWAVE EQUIPMENT
MILKY WAY
QUASARS
RADIO EQUIPMENT
RADIO GALAXIES
RADIO TELESCOPES
STARS
SURFACES
TELESCOPES