VSOP-2 Technology
Most of the technologies of the VSOP-2 mission already have been
demonstrated by VSOP-1, by ground-based Very Long Baseline
Interferometry, or by other space missions. These include:
- Provision of a highly stable on-board clock locked to a ground-based
hydrogen maser (VSOP-1)
- Wideband downlink and recording of data at a rate of 128 Mbit/s (VSOP-1),
as well as recording and correlation of telescope data at the
VSOP-2 rate of 1 Gbit/s and higher (ground VLBI)
- Space-hardened low-noise amplifiers at gigahertz frequencies (VSOP-1, WMAP)
- Long-lived space-qualified cryogenic coolers (several JAXA missions)
Perhaps the two newest technology requirements for VSOP-2 are precision orbit
determination of 10 cm accuracy or better for the astrometric science goals,
plus reliable deployment of a 10m space antenna with surface accuracy sufficient
for observing at frequencies as high as 43 GHz. The orbit determination will
be carried out by a combination of on-board GPS receivers and laser-ranging
for the highest accuracy astrometric observations. The deployable antenna will
consist of seven 4m antenna segments that are essentially identical to those
of the 14-segment antenna deployed aboard the
ETS-VIII
satellite in December 2006. Additional azimuthal cables, as well as a
multi-dimensional focus-adjustment mechanism, will be used to provide
the enhanced surface accuracy required for the ASTRO-G radio telescope.
Last modified on
Wednesday, 14-Jan-2009 10:28:13 MST
Hosted by NRAO on behalf of the US VSOP-2 Science Team.
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