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September 17, 2008 Updated

ASTRO-G LDR scaled-down model electric test

An antenna pattern measurement test using a scaled down model of the large deployable antenna (LDR) was held for the ASTRO-G at the Radio Test Building at the JAXA Tsukuba Space Center. The LDR is one of the basic technologies for satellites. The photo shows the Tsukuba's test facility called a "compact range," and the ASTRO-G LDR scaled model (golden object looks like an umbrella on the upper right) under testing.

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Radio Astronomical Satellite enables high-resolution celestial observations through its onboard radio telescope, "ASTRO-G"

In February 1997, the "HALCA" (MUSES-B), which was the world's first radio-astronomy satellite that enabled the "Space Very Long Baseline Interferometer" (Space VLBI) method, was launched by M-V launch Vehicle No. 1 (M-V-1) from the Uchinoura Space Center (USC.) The satellite observed deep-space including the high-resolution imaging of active galactic nuclei. The HALCA mission was one segment of the major international collaboration called the VLBI Space Observatory Program (VSOP), and it became a core part of the VSOP.
Based on the results of the VSOP, the upgraded project "VSOP-2" is currently planned. The "VSOP-2" is a successive plan of the VSOP to realize high-resolution celestial observations by launching a satellite with a radio-telescope onboard. The "ASTRO-G" is the satellite for the "VSOP-2."


VSOP-2 and "ASTRO-G"

The VSOP mission will focus on observations in the millimeter wave-band that enables the imaging of objects directly with the best resolution. This will allow studies of fields where extreme space physical conditions are encountered, including the elucidation of "the scale of the accretion disk and jet generation and acceleration region surrounding the active galactic nuclei black holes." Compared to the telescope onboard the HALCA, the ASTRO-G telescope is expected to be 10 times higher in frequency. It will also have improved resolution, higher sensitivity and astrometry using the phase referencing technique, and a magnetic field measurement function by polarized wave observation.