RadioAstron fringe search has started

First fringe search observations of the ground-space interferometer RadioAstron have started on November 15 and 23, 2011. Both sessions have happened successfully, observations were made on the 18 cm band. Scientific data from the space radio telescope were successfully transmitted to and recorded by the Pushchino tracking station. The observations were supported by the following ground VLBI stations: three 32-m telescopes of the Russian VLBI network Kvazar in Svetloe, Zelenchukskaya, Badary, 70-m radio telescope in Eupatoria (Ukraine), 64-m Usuda (Japan), 100-m Effelsberg (Germany), 100-m GBT (USA). Quick data quality check has confirmed that the data are suitable for the fringe search. The data analysis center in Astro Space Center of Lebedev has started the interferometric fringe search.

Full newsletter here: ( russian ) http://www.asc.rssi.ru/radioastron/news/news_ru.pdf