Proposal for an international institute for space sciences and electronics and for a giant equatorial radio telescope as a collaborative effort of the developing countries

Abstract

It is proposed to construct a 2 km long and 50 m wide cylindrical radio telescope at a site close to the earth's equator. By placing the long axis of the cylinder in the north-south direction at the equator, its axis of rotation would become parallel to that of the earth. Thus, it would be possible to track celestial radio sources for about 12 hr a day by a simple mechanical rotation of the radio telescope. The beam will be steered in declination by electrical phasing. The radio telescope would be operated at a few discrete band s protected for radio astronomy in the range of about 38 to 328 MHz. Along with a proposed 14 km X 12 km synthesis radio relescope, it would become a unique facility for radio astronomy at meter wavelength. It is likely to lead to many outstanding astronomical discoveries. Suitable sites for the proposed radio telescope have been located in Indonesia and Kenya. The design and construction of the radio telescope as a collaborative effort will provide valuable training to scientists and engineers of the developing countries. Also it should lead to an excellent focal point for technical collaboration between the participating countries in the fields of space sciences and electronics.