Nov. 13, 2015

The Sardinia Radio Telescope interacts with the 'comet-hunter' probe, confirming the telescope's potential for use in space.

Right over the first anniversary of Philae's landing, the Rosettamission has once again attracted attention with another important event. The signal transmitted by the probe has been picked up by the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT), an advanced radio-astronomy structure first used on 30 September 2013 in Pranu Saguni (San Biasilio, Province of Cagliari).
The “dialogue” between the SRT and Rosetta is part of activities relating to the radio telescope's potential for space use, supported by the Italian Space Agency, and confirms theSRT's level of excellence in receiving data from inter-planetary probes

This is a particularly important aspect for ESA and NASA, who are constantly working to find support stations to handle the increasingly large flow of data from probes.
The work done by INAF laboratories at the Cagliari Astronomical Observatory (OAC), backed by the Sardinian regional authorities, made it possible to rapidly “renovate” a microwave receiver operating in the X and Kα bands (8 GHz and 30 GHz respectively) and previously used for the INAF radio-telescope in Noto, Sicily.

Moreover, the SRT has an ultra-high resolution digital spectrometer, based on “ROACH” cards and next generation FPGA devices developed in Cagliari as part of an international collaboration project known as “CASPER”. The development of this instrument was the essential element of a “Tender” project funded by the Sardinia Region, involving INAF-OAC and theElectrical and Electronic Engineering Department (DIEE) at the University of Cagliari.
“News of data reception from the Rosetta probe by the Sardinia Radio Telescope is a source of huge satisfaction for ASI”, commented Italian Space Agency President, Roberto Battiston.

“The SRT is not only one of the most advanced radio-telescopes in the world, but it is also an extraordinary instrument for ‘dialoguing’ with inter-planetary probes. This is confirmed by the interest that both ESA and NASA have shown in using this exceptional instrument, thanks to ASI”, he added.
INAF President, Nicolò D'Amico, commented that: “As well as being an advanced instrument of modern radio-astronomy, the SRT radio-telescope has huge potential in a range of space applications in which Sardinia can play a leading role, and to which the European Community is paying great attention”.

For example, one application involves monitoring space debris and asteroids on a potential collision path with Earth. “This is a problem that affects planetary safety and the instrument's use for boosting the network of antennas that can receive data sent by inter-planetary probes like Rosetta”, concluded Mr D'Amico.