ROSCOSMOS - Spekt-R logo.
July 21, 2013
Two years working in Earth orbit spacecraft "Spektr-R" with a telescope Radioastron. Working on the principle of the interferometer Radioastron - today the only astrophysical tool that allows you to look beyond the horizon of the universe almost.
Spacecraft "Spektr-R" / Radioastron
Russian astrophysicists ready for opening. At the telescope Radioastron a new stage of research. Have to look inside the black hole. "The angular resolution we have is that exceeded all that has been done before in the world. And once in three or four we have to increase the resolution to close the black hole - says Academician of Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the Lebedev Physical Institute Astro Space Center Nikolai Kardashev.
In theory, the black hole - objects of great mass. Their gravity is so strong that not even light escapes to the outside. They do not radiate, and hence they can not see, but you can see their shadows.
"A huge area that emits nothing but gas around it should give light, the theory predicts that we should see the ring, and in the middle of the dark area, which suggests that it is - a" black hole "- explains Nikolai Kardashev.
Black holes - one of the most mysterious phenomena. They are in the center of each galaxy. New astronomers dispute - the formation of black holes. There are suggestions that they existed before the Big Bang, that is, before the birth of our universe.
"This issue has long been debated, apparently, many universes. Possible to try to follow through the black holes to detect traces of other universes," - said Nikolai Kardashev.
Радиоастрон - за границу мироздания / Radioastron - abroad universe (video in Russian)
During the two years of work Radioastron researched dozens of massive objects billions of light years from Earth. Spacecraft "Spektr-R" works in conjunction with ground-based telescopes are installed on different continents, forming a so-called interferometer. Simply put, it turns a single antenna with a diameter of 350,000 kilometers, like a huge eye that sees a million times better than a human.
"When we speak of its high sensitivity to imply that in addition to its high resolution, it is also able to observe not only the brightest objects of the cosmos, as well - the weaker ones. This is very important because the ability to observe fainter objects makes it possible to virtually go to horizons of the universe, "- said the head of the scientific program of" Radioastron "Yuri Kovalev.
Scientists-modest, time for sensationalism has not come yet, in contrast, was only more questions. Scientists, "Dory" sums up his two-year studies. An analogue of this device now flies with "Spectrum". It was a successful orbit of the "Spectrum" - the apogee of 350,000 kilometers from Earth, almost like the moon, led scientists to suggest to install the satellite and mini-apparatus for the experiment Plasma-F.
Spacecraft "Spektr-R" / Radioastron description
Was selected spectrum "because it has a high distance from the earth. Practice - the orbit of the moon. And most of the time the satellite spectrum holds in the solar wind," - says a corresponding member of Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of Laboratory of Space Plasma IKI Anatoly Petrukovich .
Scientists admit that even our home star called the sun - little studied. It is still unclear how the solar wind is formed, the flow of electrons and protons. On this depends the geomagnetic situation on Earth: a storm or not, and with what force. Experiment Plasma-F allows you to thoroughly examine the solar wind.
"Every 30 milliseconds, it measures the density, velocity, temperature, direction of arrival of the solar wind," - explains senior researcher at the Institute of Space Research George Zastenker.
The approximate lifetime of the spacecraft "Spektr-R" - 5 years, but, in practice, it can work, and more. Perhaps the sensational discoveries that would have excited the imagination of Earthlings in the near future and will not be. However, for professionals, is not the point. Every great discovery - the hard work, which is invisible to the layman, but it is important for science.
ROSCOSMOS Press Release: http://www.federalspace.ru/main.php?id=2&nid=20221
Images, Video, Text, Credits: ROSCOSMOS / Roskosmos TV studio / ROSCOSMOS TV / Vesti.ru / Translation: Orbiter.ch Aerospace.
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