Two new radio telescopes enhance China's deep space exploration

Two new radio telescopes enhance China's deep space exploration
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Dec 28, 2024

Two advanced radio telescopes, each with a 40-meter-diameter antenna, have officially entered service to bolster China's deep space exploration and astronomical research efforts. The telescopes are situated on Changbai Mountain in Jilin province and in Shigatse, Xizang autonomous region, the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory announced on Friday.

The telescopes enhance China's Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network, which enables simultaneous observations of celestial bodies from multiple locations for high-resolution data. These new installations join existing facilities in Shanghai, Urumqi, and Kunming to significantly improve the network's coverage and capabilities.

"With these additions, the VLBI network's effective diameter has expanded from 3,200 kilometers to 3,800 kilometers," said Shen Zhiqiang, director of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory. "This increases resolution by 18 percent and the observable sky area by 25 percent. We can now simultaneously observe multiple celestial directions, offering critical support for China's future deep space missions."

The telescopes will support the Tianwen 2 mission in May 2025 and contribute to cutting-edge astronomical research, including studies on supermassive black holes, gravitational wave electromagnetic counterparts, and the dynamics of the Milky Way.

Radio telescopes work by capturing and converting radio waves emitted by celestial objects into data for scientific analysis. "The larger the telescope's diameter, the better its ability to observe fine details," Shen added. "The 3,800-kilometer distance between Shigatse and Changbai Mountain gives them resolution power equivalent to a telescope of the same size."

Construction of the two telescopes began in September 2023. Ding Chibiao, vice-president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized the importance of scientific infrastructure and talent development, noting, "We aim to gather and nurture top talent while building outstanding engineering and technical teams around these platforms."

China's VLBI network, established in the 1970s, played a pivotal role in the country's lunar exploration programs, including accurate orbit determination for missions from Chang'e 1 to Chang'e 6 and the Tianwen 1 Mars mission.

Ye Shuhua, honorary director of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory, praised the technological advancements, stating, "The 40-meter radio telescopes at Shigatse and Changbai Mountain will significantly contribute to future lunar and deep space missions targeting asteroids, Mars, Jupiter, and beyond."