Abstract
A number of joint milestones amalgamated radio astronomy and space studies over the last half a century. In the recent years, space-based radio astronomy advanced understanding of the Universe by highly accurate measurements of the cosmic microwave background (NASA?s COBE and WMAP missions) and achieved record high angular resolution at cm wavelengths by extending VLBI beyond Earth (the Japanese-led VSOP-HALCA mission). In January 2005, an Earth-based network of radio telescopes helped to pinpoint descent and touch-down of the ESA?s Huygens Probe on Titan with a one kilometre accuracy ? a remarkable achievement for the most distant controlled landing in Solar System to date.
In this presentation, I will briefly review recent radio astronomy experiments conducted with various planetary and other space science missions. I will also emphasise radio astronomy segments of prospective space science missions aimed at a very broad variety of scientific disciplines, from geology and physics of atmosphere of planets to fundamental physics and cosmology. As a clear continuation of the 50-year-long interaction between radio astronomy and space science, a very important role in advancing space science applications might be played by the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). I will present several applications in which SKA in a VLBI or ?single dish? mode combined with space missions will be able to make scientific impact unachievable by any other means in the foreseeable future.
Created 2009-06-01 14:28:15 by Mats Holmström Last changed 2009-06-01 14:28:15 by Mats Holmström
