The project of the Russian space telescope "Millimetron", which provides for the launch of the astrophysical observatory "Spectrum-M", will begin to be implemented not in 2029, but a year later. This was stated by the acting head of the FIAN Astrocosmic Center Sergey Likhachev.
"The estimated launch date is 2030," the scientist said on November 11 at a meeting of the RAS Space Council.
According to Likhachev, after the start of work for the next 20-30 years, "Millimetron" will become a spacecraft with the largest telescope - with a diameter of 10 m. At the same time, the largest BTA telescope in Eurasia (the "Large Azimuth Telescope") has a diameter of 6 m.
According to the expert, thanks to one of the tasks solved by the telescope, understanding the thermodynamics of the Universe will become possible, and observing planets and asteroids in the Solar System will allow to determine with high accuracy the presence of water and water ice on them.
Another task of the telescope will be the search for exoplanets, signs of life in the universe and astro-engineering structures. It is planned to place the telescope 1.5 million km from the Earth in the opposite direction from the Sun.
In July 2019, it was reported that the RT-70 radio telescope located in Yevpatoria could be involved in the Millimetron project. The Crimean telescope can serve as an antenna. It was noted that the same telescope located in Ussuriysk can also be used in the "Millimetron".
