China has announced that the largest radio telescope in the world is ready to be put into action. It has a diameter of 1,640 feet, cost the Chinese $185 million and is constructed of 4,500 panels. China states, as everyone else does, like SETI, that it has been constructed to look for signs of extraterrestrial life. People continue to believe such things and the scientists in China, like elsewhere, declare that such a telescope will help them “to understand the origins of the universe”
Chinese astronomers will begin operation of the telescope and will work the bugs out over the next two years, the Chinese government said. Following this de-buging, the telescope will be available to be used by any astronomer in the world. The official operations will begin in September. The Chinese have also stated that the scientists will be looking far out into the universe in an effort to detect pulsars.
Yue Youling of the National Astronomical Observatories said that, “Understanding the fundamental physics of pulsars will help us understand the Big Bang. Now, we only know what happened after the Big Bang. Everything before that relies on our calculation. Therefore there are a lot of uncertainties.”
China continues to look to be a world super power and its leaps in science and technology of late have been great considering the heavy investment made by the Chinese communist government. China, the second largest economy on the planet, also plans a moon mission and has begun construction on a space station. The first module of the space station will be launched some time in 2018.
The launching of the world’s largest telescope comes on the recent heels of the Chinese invention of the world’s fastest and largest supercomputer. The world’s super powers, including Russia and the United States, are keeping a close eye on China’s invigorated space program. They all look to space to weaponize it despite the peaceful claims that governments make.
PHOTO CREDIT: Reuters