Andrew Yee
October 18th 05, 01:09 AM
National Research Council Canada
Ottawa, Canada
October 17, 2005
Astrophysics Team Wins International Award for Radio Telescope Technology
International Astronautics Laurels for NRC Scientist
Victoria, BC -- The 2005 "Laurels for Team Achievement Award" of the
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) has been given to a team of
fifteen scientists from Canada, Japan, the USA, Europe and Australia. Dr.
Peter Dewdney of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is the
team's Principal Canadian Investigator; other Canadian members include Dr.
Russ Taylor of the University of Calgary and Dr. Wayne Cannon of York
University.
This year's award recognizes the exceptional astrophysics and engineering
work of the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Space Observatory
Program (VSOP) team. Together, they have created a virtual radio telescope
dish with a diameter nearly four times the radius of the earth.Canada
provided the VSOP with one of its three radio-wavelength correlators.
These instruments collect data from several earth-bound radio telescopes
and from ground stations that are tracking the Japanese HALCA
radio-telescope satellite. In sum, the correlators process the gathered
data and produce detailed radio images of stars and galaxies. This
technique, known as very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), was
pioneered by NRC in the late 1960's.
"One of NRC's strengths is its international collaborations with the best
scientists in the world," said Dr. Pierre Coulombe, NRC President. "We
are very pleased to have contributed to this boundary-breaking project and
congratulate the team for their internationally acclaimed astrophysics and
engineering work."
The Canadian VSOP team benefited from $3.2 Million of funding by the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
"VSOP marked the Canadian Space Agency's first space astronomy mission and
successfully demonstrated our close collaboration with the National
Research Council of Canada. The CSA funded instrument, built and operated
by the Canadian team, provided spectacular high resolution radio images
that help explain the nature of quasars and active nuclei of galaxies
harboring massive black holes," said Marc Garneau, President of the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Past recipients of the prestigious award include the Hubble Space
Telescope Team, the US Shuttle team and the Russian MIR Space Station
team. The award coincides with the 56th annual congress of the
International Academy of Astronautics, being held in Fukuoka, Japan
Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National
Research Council is a leader in the development of an innovative,
knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.
The Canadian Space Agency is committed to leading the development and
application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity.
Background Information
* NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
http://www.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/
* Canadian Space Agency's effort in VSOP
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/vsop.asp
* Canadian Correlator
http://www.drao-ofr.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/science/vlbi/gallery/corr_images.shtml
* Illustration of Big Antenna comprised of several Ground and orbiting
Japanese 8m radio telescope
http://www.vsop.isas.jaxa.jp/bigant.html
* International Academy of Astronautics "Laurels for Team Achievement
Award"
http://www.iaanet.org/awards/laurels.html
For more information, please visit the NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
or contact:
Alex Myers
Media Relations, NRC
Tel.: (613) 998-7352
Jacques P. Vallée
NRC-HIA Media Officer
National Research Council Canada
Tel.: (250) 363-6952
Peter Dewdney
Manager, Astronomy Technology Research Group
NRC-HIA Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Tel: (250) 493-2277
Ottawa, Canada
October 17, 2005
Astrophysics Team Wins International Award for Radio Telescope Technology
International Astronautics Laurels for NRC Scientist
Victoria, BC -- The 2005 "Laurels for Team Achievement Award" of the
International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) has been given to a team of
fifteen scientists from Canada, Japan, the USA, Europe and Australia. Dr.
Peter Dewdney of the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) is the
team's Principal Canadian Investigator; other Canadian members include Dr.
Russ Taylor of the University of Calgary and Dr. Wayne Cannon of York
University.
This year's award recognizes the exceptional astrophysics and engineering
work of the Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) Space Observatory
Program (VSOP) team. Together, they have created a virtual radio telescope
dish with a diameter nearly four times the radius of the earth.Canada
provided the VSOP with one of its three radio-wavelength correlators.
These instruments collect data from several earth-bound radio telescopes
and from ground stations that are tracking the Japanese HALCA
radio-telescope satellite. In sum, the correlators process the gathered
data and produce detailed radio images of stars and galaxies. This
technique, known as very long baseline interferometry (VLBI), was
pioneered by NRC in the late 1960's.
"One of NRC's strengths is its international collaborations with the best
scientists in the world," said Dr. Pierre Coulombe, NRC President. "We
are very pleased to have contributed to this boundary-breaking project and
congratulate the team for their internationally acclaimed astrophysics and
engineering work."
The Canadian VSOP team benefited from $3.2 Million of funding by the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
"VSOP marked the Canadian Space Agency's first space astronomy mission and
successfully demonstrated our close collaboration with the National
Research Council of Canada. The CSA funded instrument, built and operated
by the Canadian team, provided spectacular high resolution radio images
that help explain the nature of quasars and active nuclei of galaxies
harboring massive black holes," said Marc Garneau, President of the
Canadian Space Agency (CSA).
Past recipients of the prestigious award include the Hubble Space
Telescope Team, the US Shuttle team and the Russian MIR Space Station
team. The award coincides with the 56th annual congress of the
International Academy of Astronautics, being held in Fukuoka, Japan
Recognized globally for research and innovation, Canada's National
Research Council is a leader in the development of an innovative,
knowledge-based economy for Canada through science and technology.
The Canadian Space Agency is committed to leading the development and
application of space knowledge for the benefit of Canadians and humanity.
Background Information
* NRC Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics
http://www.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/
* Canadian Space Agency's effort in VSOP
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/satellites/vsop.asp
* Canadian Correlator
http://www.drao-ofr.hia-iha.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/science/vlbi/gallery/corr_images.shtml
* Illustration of Big Antenna comprised of several Ground and orbiting
Japanese 8m radio telescope
http://www.vsop.isas.jaxa.jp/bigant.html
* International Academy of Astronautics "Laurels for Team Achievement
Award"
http://www.iaanet.org/awards/laurels.html
For more information, please visit the NRC Web site at
http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca
or contact:
Alex Myers
Media Relations, NRC
Tel.: (613) 998-7352
Jacques P. Vallée
NRC-HIA Media Officer
National Research Council Canada
Tel.: (250) 363-6952
Peter Dewdney
Manager, Astronomy Technology Research Group
NRC-HIA Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
Tel: (250) 493-2277