China’s ‘FAST’ and forward approach to find Aliens

Is there really a species called Aliens which lives beyond our Milky Way and is scientifically advanced to such an extent that our so-called modern technology is not able to establish their existence?

While experts too don’t dismiss the theory of life on other planets and there have been stories in the media about some specific institutions claiming to have discovered alien traces, but the fact is that no such particular project has been initiated thus far to put a strong focus on finding if aliens exist in outer space.

However, China has taken this initiative seriously- they are now absolutely determined to search for an intelligent existence outside the galaxy.

Out of this purpose, China is developing a 500-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope called FAST, which will lie nestled between the hills of the South Western province of Guizhou. It is going to be world’s largest Radio Telescope, which promises to help humanity in its search for extraterrestrial life.

For the operation of this device, the officials are relocating over 9000 residents living within five kilometers of the telescope. FAST, built at a cost of 1.2 billion Yuan, will break all the previous records and take the position of World’s largest radio telescope, which is currently held by another one in Puerto Rico (this one measures 300 meters in diameter).

Now the question that arises here is how would this telescope work? Practically, a radio telescope comprises of four basic parts – a dish & antenna, a receiver, a detector and an analyzer. The dish will collect the radio signals from space and focus them on the antenna.

According to recent reports in Chinese state media, FAST is made up of 4,450 triangular-shaped panels. Once the telescope is fully functional, those movable panels will be used to reflect radio signals from distant parts of the universe towards a 30-tonne retina capable of gathering them.

Well, we do hope that this endeavour helps us discover, real fast, the answer to one of mankind’s biggest unsolved mystery.