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Are There Space-Based Radio Telescopes?

-- Robert | July 11, 2019

Question:

I am watching the great courses Radio Astronomy and the question is coming up in my head. Is there any radio astronomy satellite out side of earth, listing to space now?

-- Robert

Answer:

There have been a few radio telescopes launched into space over the years, most with the purpose of linking with ground-based radio telescopes to form an array with very long baselines (distances between antennas). One such recent project, which ceased operation just a few months ago, is RadioAstron. I don’t believe that there are any currently-operating radio telescopes in space, though.

-- Jeff Mangum

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