Earth-orbiting radio telescope

While most radio waves pass through Earth's atmosphere, Earth-orbiting radio telescopes are used for specific observations. These include studying very long wavelengths distorted by the ionosphere, very short wavelengths affected by water vapor and oxygen, and precision observations sensitive to thermal radiation from the ground.1

The first radio astronomy satellite, Ariel 2, was launched in 1964. Subsequent missions like the Radio Astronomy Explorers, Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite, and Odin have expanded our ability to observe the universe from space. Satellites such as the Cosmic Background Explorer, Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, and Planck have been crucial in studying the cosmic microwave background radiation, providing insights into the universe's age and composition.1