China has begun constructing the world’s largest fully steerable radio telescope in Huadian, Jilin Province, as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance space exploration capabilities.
The telescope, with a planned diameter of 120 meters, will play a crucial role in improving scientific understanding of planets and asteroids. Unlike many existing radio telescopes, this advanced model will have the ability to send electromagnetic waves to celestial bodies and receive the return signals, allowing for precise measurements of distances between planets and Earth.
Progress and Timeline
The project site in Huadian was selected in May 2024, and preliminary work commenced soon after, according to Luo Xuejiu, head of the telescope’s project office.
“The pile foundation work has been completed,” Luo said, noting that the installation, adjustment, and testing phases are scheduled for completion by 2028.
This groundbreaking development is part of China’s broader push to enhance its capabilities in space science. The country previously built the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope (FAST) in Guizhou Province, currently the world’s largest single-dish and most sensitive radio telescope.
Features of Steerable Radio Telescopes
Unlike fixed radio telescopes, fully steerable models can rotate to observe a broader area of the sky, offering greater flexibility for scientific research. These telescopes are particularly valuable for tracking celestial objects and conducting in-depth studies of distant planets, asteroids, and other cosmic phenomena.
In addition to the telescope under construction in Jilin, China is developing similar fully steerable radio telescopes in strategic locations, including the Changbai Mountain Protection and Development Zone in Jilin, Xigaze in the Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region, and Qitai in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Expanding Space Science Capabilities
China’s investments in cutting-edge space observation infrastructure reflect its growing ambitions in astrophysics and planetary science. The FAST telescope, which became operational in 2020, has already made significant contributions to studying pulsars and searching for extraterrestrial signals.
The new steerable telescope in Jilin is expected to complement these efforts, providing a versatile tool for astronomers to explore the mysteries of the universe with even greater precision.
As construction progresses, the telescope is poised to solidify China’s position as a global leader in radio astronomy and space exploration.
