Project Radioastron

The prospects of basic research in astrophysics are linked to the improvement of two telescope parameters - angular resolution and sensitivity. One technique that makes it possible to increase angular resolution by many orders of magnitude is radio interferometry. The use of this technique with the transport of one of the elements of the radio interferometer into space is planned in the international project Radioastron. The Radioastron interferometer consists of four large interrelated systems: a space-based radiotelescope, ground-based radiotelescopes, a radio communications system, and a data processing system. The Radioastron project is a long-term program for studying deep space. Its final stage calls for the creation of a space-based aperture synthesis system consisting of several space-based radiotelescopes at various distances from the Earth, with periods of revolution ranging from 24 hours to a year, and operating in the millimeter range of radiowaves.