China Launches Operational Twin Telescopes, Bolstering its Space Exploration Capabilities
In a significant stride forward for its space exploration pursuits, China has activated two radio telescopes fitted with 40-meter-diameter antennas. The antennas began operation on December 27, 2024, marking a considerable boost to the country’s Very-Long-Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network.
These twin telescopes, situated in China’s northeast and southwestern regions, are located in the mountain ranges of Changbai in Jilin Province and Shigatse in the Tibet Autonomous Region. They were constructed by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory (SHAO), under the aegis of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and stand as remarkable additions to the existing network.
The Chinese VLBI network now sprawls across Shanghai’s command center and six outstations positioned in diverse locations, including Shanghai, Urumqi, Kunming, Changbai Mountain, and Shigatse. This extensive network utilizes VLBI technology, enabling the capture of intricate radio images and precise celestial object location, thus facilitatingdomestic space exploration efforts.
VLBI technology differentiates itself from conventional techniques by consolidating signals from multiple telescopes to form an effectively larger ‘virtual telescope.’ With the inclusion of the two newly operational telescopes, the maximum span of the Chinese VLBI network has jumped from 3,200 km to 3,800 km, expanding its skywatching area by 25% and enhancing X-band resolution precision by 18%.
This network has already played a pivotal role in Chinese space mission endeavors such as the Moon’s Chang’e mission and Mars’ Tianwen-1. With six stations now operational, it promises even greater simultaneous observation and tracking capabilities for a myriad of celestial targets, boding well for future Chinese space missions.
At the telescope’s inauguration ceremony, CAS Vice President Ding Chibiao emphasized the crucial role of advanced technology infrastructure in fostering innovation and facilitating technology resource sharing. Academician Ye Shuhua envisioned these new telescopes to play a key role in lunar exploration missions, as well as extra terrestrial pursuits such as asteroid, Mars, Jupiter, and other celestial body explorations.
The construction of these two telescopes, initiated in September 2023, faced numerous logistical challenges, primarily due to their locations at 4,100-meter altitudes and within extreme cold weather zones.
The deployment of these telescopes undoubtedly fortifies Chinese radio astronomy research, propelling it towards novel discoveries about supermassive black holes, compact astrophysical objects, and other astronomical phenomena.
