1. What is the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project?
Answer: The SKA project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, which will conduct deep space observations from two remote, quiet locations in Western Australia and South Africa.
2. What is India’s contribution to the SKA project?
Answer: India is set to supervise the development of the software necessary to monitor and control the SKA telescopes. Indian institutes are also actively involved in the various stages of planning, design, and execution of the project.
3. How will the SKA telescopes help in astronomical observations?
Answer: The SKA telescopes will study the universe in great detail, enhancing our understanding of galaxies, black holes, and tracking gravitational waves, among other scientific investigations.
4. What are the two different frequency ranges of the SKA telescopes?
Answer: The telescopes will operate on two different frequency ranges, known as SKA-Mid and SKA-Low, with arrays of traditional dish antennas and smaller tree-like antennas, respectively.
5. How is the SKA project a game-changer in science?
Answer: The SKA project will use cutting-edge technology and supercomputers to enable unprecedented study of the universe, potentially revolutionizing our knowledge in various scientific fields.
6. How many countries, including India, are participating in the SKA project?
Answer: More than 10 nations are collaborating in the SKA project, with India being a significant participant in this mega-science project.
7. What is the estimated cost of India’s participation in the SKA project?
Answer: The Indian government has approved a contribution of Rs 1,250 crore for India’s participation in the SKA project.
These FAQs provide an overview of the SKA project and India’s pivotal role in this significant international astronomical endeavor.
