Astro-Array: A Space-Based, Coherent Radio Interferometer Array

摘要

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.