HALCA

Quick Facts: Who was HALCA?

Subject:

HALCA

Known for:

Japanese 8-meter radio telescope satellite for pioneering VLBI space observations.

Born:

1997

Died:

2005

Century / Era:

1997s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

HALCA (Highly Advanced Laboratory for Communications and AstronomyK_0@@), also known for its project name VSOP (VLBI Space Observatory Programme), the code name MUSES-B (for the second of the Mu Space Engineering Spacecraft series), or just Haruka ("far away, distant" (はるか)) was a Japanese 8 meter diameter radio telescope satellite which was used for Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI). It was the first such space-borne dedicated VLBI mission.

Career & Major Achievements

It was placed in a highly elliptical orbit with an apogee altitude of 21,400 km and a perigee altitude of 560 km, with an orbital period of approximately 6.3 hours. This orbit allowed imaging of celestial radio sources by the satellite in conjunction with an array of ground-based radio telescopes, such that both good (u,v) plane coverage and very high resolution were obtained.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Although designed to observe in three frequency bands: 1.6 GHz, 5.0 GHz, and 22 GHz, it was found that the sensitivity of the 22 GHz band had severely degraded after orbital deployment, probably caused by vibrational deformation of the dish shape at launch, thus limiting observations to the 1.6 GHz and 5.0 GHz bands.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1997: Birth of HALCA — Japanese 8-meter radio telescope satellite for pioneering VLBI space observations.
2. 2005: Passing & Historical Legacy — HALCA passed away on 2005, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: HALCA

True or False: “HALCA was the first dedicated space-borne mission to utilize Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) for radio astronomy.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): This is an authentic historical fact; HALCA pioneered the use of space platforms for high-resolution, long-baseline radio interferometry.

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• 1997 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1997
• 2005 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2005

Frequently Asked Questions about HALCA