China's Xigaze 40-Meter Radio Telescope Project Advances, Set to Boost Lunar and Deep Space Research
TapTechNews October 8th news, according to CCTV News report, on the morning of October 7th, the Xigaze 40-meter radio telescope jointly developed by the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the 39th Research Institute of China Electronics Technology Group Corporation successfully completed the hoisting of the main reflector of the antenna system in Xigaze City, Tibet Autonomous Region .
According to TapTechNews report, in September 2023, the scientific seminar and work kick-off meeting of the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory Xigaze 40-meter radio telescope project was successfully held at the observation site about 35 kilometers west of Xigaze City, and the Xigaze 40-meter telescope project was officially launched.
The Xigaze 40-meter radio telescope is a radio telescope invested and constructed in the fourth phase of the Lunar Exploration Project. Together with the radio telescope that completed the hoisting of the main reflector of the antenna system in Changbai Mountain, Jilin in August 2024, it joins the Chinese Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) network (CVN) to form a flexible six-station-one-center dual-network, with the ability to simultaneously observe the orbit determination of the moon and deep space probes in two different celestial regions.
In order to adapt to the high-altitude environment, the Xigaze 40-meter radio telescope adopts a number of advanced technologies. For example, the antenna has the characteristics of full solid surface, full mobility, high precision, and multi-purpose.
It is expected that the telescope will complete the basic construction by the end of 2024 and have the VLBI observation ability at the beginning of 2025. The completion and operation of the Xigaze 40-meter radio telescope and the Changbai Mountain 40-meter radio telescope will further enhance the existing VLBI orbit determination ability in China and contribute to subsequent lunar and planetary exploration and manned lunar landing.