Andrianov Andrey

Abstract Reference: 30077
Identifier: P1.1
Presentation: Poster presentation
Key Theme: 1 Reduction and Analysis Algorithms for Large Databases and Vice-versa

ASC Correlator and Astro Space Locator software: Data processing in “Radioastron” mission

Authors:
Andrianov Andrey, Guirin Igor, Kostenko Vladimir, Vladimir, Zharov Rudnitsky Alexey, Likhachev Sergey, Vladimir Ladygin, Shatskaya Marina

The “Radioastron” space mission is the unique project of Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos) and Russian Academy of Sciences to investigate the Universe by means of VLBI implementation with “Spektr-R” space satellite. “Spektr-R” onboard 10-m radio telescope has been operating since 15 November, 2011 as the Space element of the space-ground interferometer at the orbit with its apogee up to 350000 km. The first and the basic step in VLBI data processing is correlation. Space-VLBI brings new requirements to the correlation process due to significant uncertainties in delay model for space telescope. “Radioastron” mission correlator is a part of ASL (Astro Space Locator) software package, which was developed in Astro Space Center (ASC) of Lebedev Physical Institute. In this report the main features and operational procedures of the ASC Correlator are described with the emphasis on the Space-VLBI data-processing differences compared to the ground VLBI. It includes a time delay and its derivatives calculation algorithm and the procedure of correction for these parameters. This approach is critical for the correlation of space-ground interferometer data. In this report we also show the importance of the orbit accuracy and correlator requirements for the future Space-VLBI missions, such as the “Millimetron” project. Also, we describe the main features of ASL Software package, which is an unique set of software instruments and tools for VLBI data reduction, calibration and VLBI imaging deconvolution.