The first batch of China-built medium frequency antennas for the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) were shipped to South Africa on Wednesday, marking a significant step forward in constructing the world's largest radio telescope array. 🚀
These antennas journeyed from Shijiazhuang, the capital of north China's Hebei Province, to the SKA site in South Africa, signaling China's pivotal role in this international marvel.
The SKA is a sprawling network of thousands of radio antennas spread across sites in Australia and Africa. Funded and managed by over 10 countries, this project boasts higher sensitivity and faster survey speeds than any other radio instrument array to date.
As one of the seven founding members and a signatory to the SKA Observatory Convention signed in 2019, China oversees the design, manufacturing, transportation, integration, and commissioning of 64 medium-frequency antenna sets. This recent delivery kickstarts the mass production phase of the antenna structure.
Once completed, the SKA array will aid humanity in unraveling the mysteries of the universe's origin and enhance research into the evolution of galaxies. A monumental leap for science and exploration! 🌌🔭
