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The next generation space VLBI project, VSOP-2

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2007

Yasuhiro Murata
Affiliation:
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan. email:murata@vsop.isas.jaxa.jp
Nanako Mochizuki
Affiliation:
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan. email:murata@vsop.isas.jaxa.jp
Hirofumi Saito
Affiliation:
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan. email:murata@vsop.isas.jaxa.jp
Hisashi Hirabayashi
Affiliation:
Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, 3-1-1 Yoshinodai, Sagamihara, Kanagawa 229-8510, Japan. email:murata@vsop.isas.jaxa.jp
Makoto Inoue
Affiliation:
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
Hideyuki Kobayashi
Affiliation:
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, 2-21-1 Osawa, Mitaka, Tokyo 181-8588, Japan
Philip G. Edwards
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Australia Telescope National Facility, Locked Bag 194, Narrabri, NSW 2390, Australia
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Abstract

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The first dedicated space-VLBI project, the VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP), commenced with the successful launch of radio-astronomical satellite HALCA in 1997. Plans for a second generation space-VLBI project have been made by a working group over a number of years. This project, VSOP-2, has now been approved by Japan's space agency, JAXA, as the ASTRO-G project. It is planned for the spacecraft to observe in the 8, 22 and 43 GHz bands with cooled receivers for the two higher bands, which include important maser lines. It will have a maximum angular resolution at 43 GHz (7 mm) of about 40 micro-arcseconds. Although the VSOP project mainly observed continuum emission from active galactic nuclei (AGN), VSOP-2/ASTRO-G is expected to enable a variety of high angular resolution maser line observations.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © International Astronomical Union 2008

References

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