Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre
Infrastruktūra
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Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Centre, also known as the Irbene Radio Telescope, is located in the former Soviet Army town of Irbene. The Space Intelligence Station ‘Zvaigznīte’ (Little Star) was once the army unit No. 51429. The total area of the object was 200 ha, but information about the object became publicly available only in 1993. Initially there were three antennas here, which the army used to intercept and listen-in on phone calls of the “hostile West”.
The radio astronomy centre in Irbene is currently the eighth largest in the world. It has a 32 m rotating parabolic antenna RT-32, which is the largest in Northern Europe and the eighth largest in the world, as well as a second 16 m antenna RTs-16. The centre studies space signals, and it has received a signal from as far as the Cygnus constellation. The tour includes a walk around the territory of the former army town of Irbene and a visit to an underground tunnel and the memorial place of the rocket designer Friedrich Zander in the building called ‘Kristāls’ (Cristal).
Edukacinės programos
Tour of the Irbene radio telescope complex
During the tour, visitors have the opportunity to see the RT-8 tower and the expositions located in it about the operation of RT-32 and RT-16 during the USSR, which at that time operated as a space intelligence station. Excursionists will have the opportunity to see the "old" RT-16 antenna, as well as the rest of the territory, as well as a hike through the underground tunnel.
Susijusi laiko juosta
Susijusi istorija
Damage to Irbene radio telescopes
Before leaving Irbene, the Soviet army damaged all radio telescope systems
July 1976 military-patriotic game "Orlenko" at the landfill near Irbene
July 1976 military-patriotic games "Orlenok" at the tank training ground near Irbene, in which 17-year-old Evalds Krieviņš participated and secretly photographed the games, equipment and even the Irbene antenna with a Sme8M camera