Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 July 2016
The VLBA is a new radiotelescope dedicated to research in astronomy and astrometry/geodesy using the techniques of VLBI. The array comprises ten 25 m diameter reflector antennas located so as to give optimum coverage of baselines up to 8600 km. Instrumentation provided at each antenna includes receivers for nine frequency bands between 327 MHz and 43 GHz, a hydrogen maser frequency standard and a tape recorder system capable of a peak data rate of 512 Mb/s and unattended operation for a day recording at 128 Mb/s. The antennas are controlled and monitored by a single operator located in the Array Operations Center (AOC) in Socorro, New Mexico. The AOC also houses the 20 station correlator which processes the data recorded at the antennas.