Single Dish Radio Astronomy: Great Strides 2 : Jodrell Bank

Contents

The continued success of Jodrell Bank’s observing programs enabled their astronomers to secure funding for a new telescope, and in 1953 construction began on the first large, fully steerable parabolic reflector. Following several design changes, most notably the change from a wire-mesh reflecting surface to a solid steel surface which would allow the telescope to observe at higher frequencies, the 76-meter Mark I telescope was put into service in 1957.

The Mark I radio telescope at Jodrell Bank.
(Image courtesy Jodrell Bank Observatory)

In 1957, Sputnik I became the first manmade satellite launched into orbit around the Earth.
(Image courtesy NASA)

The telescope’s first success was to detect the Soviet spacecraft Sputnik. For the next several years, the Mark I was used to track satellites and send command signals to U.S. spacecraft as well as to observe astronomical objects.

Little Joe 2, NASA test craft launched in 1959.
(Image courtesy NASA)

In the early 1960’s an improved support structure was added and a new reflecting surface was built within the existing one. The upgraded Mark IA radio telescope went on to conduct studies of the moon and the inner planets.

Mark IA telescope.
(Image courtesy Jodrell Bank)

Contents