Radio waves are among the signals we receive from stars and outer space. Ever since Penzias and Wilson's 1965 observation of cosmic microwave background radiation---radiation from the early universe---the field of radio astronomy has been undergoing continued development.
By analyzing tiny radio waves that are constantly coming in from space, astronomers are able to move past the limitations of optical telescopy to glimpse the hidden face of this vast universe. KASI is using the radio
telescope as another set of eyes peering at the universe, studying the conditions of the early universe just after its birth, the heart of the Milky Way under its thick cloud of dust, and the places where stars are born.
With using the Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Korean VLBI Network, KASI is poised to play the role of radio astronomy research hub and world radio astronomy research leader.

Major Research Areas
-Studying interstellar clouds and star formation regions
-Developing international pioneer group in interstellar molecular clouds and star formation
-Studying the microstructures of active galactic nuclei
-Building Korean VLBI Network
-Developing cosmic radio wave receivers and high-speed cosmic radio wave image synthesizer

Major Achievements
-Detecting rapid variation in SiO maser line profile toward Orion-KL protostar
-Simultaneous observation and probing of silicon monoxide maser lines in 86/129 GHz band for late-type stars
-Creating carbon monoxide molecular cloud map of the outer galaxy

Korea's first radio telescope is a 14m instrument at Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory.
Built in 1985, it has allowed Korean observation research to expand from its previous dependence on visible light into the area of radio wave. This telescope is currently being used for studies on interstellar medium and star formation regions, the evolution of protostars and late-type stars, and the search for the center of the galaxy, as well as interstellar chemistry research, including the search for new molecular lines.
The instruments used to observe celestial bodies are highly specialized precision measurement systems that have not been adapted for ordinary use. For this reason, most of them have been developed by KASI. Since its early days, Taeduk Radio Astronomy has operated a digital laboratory and receiver laboratory to produce and
test radio wave observation systems, using this state-of-the-art infrastructure as the groundwork for pioneering efforts in the development of cutting-edge equipment for Korean radio wave observation, including an ultra-low noise SIS dual-channel receiver and multi-beam receiver.

SIS : Superconductor Insulator Superconductor

Installation of the Korean VLBI Network (KVN) was completed in 2008.
The KVN is a state-of-the-art observation system capable of generating the effect of a radio telescope with 500km diameter through simultaneous operation of three 21m telescopes located in Seoul (Yonsei University), Ulsan (University of Ulsan), and Jeju (Tamna University).
In addition to precise measurement of the location of celestial bodies and studies of star formation and evolution using masers, this system will be used to study gravitational lenses and ultra micro-scale structures such as active galactic nuclei, and to detect tiny crustal movements on the Korean Peninsula. Korea's first combined astronomy
and geodesy research infrastructure, the KVN is expected to facilitate internationally competitive research findings by researchers from domestic and international activities.
Meanwhile, completion of the East Asia VLBI Network (EAVN), which is to link up with radio telescopes in Japan and China, will produce the effect of an enormous radio telescope with a 5,000km aperture, allowing for world-class research.

VLBI : Very Long Baseline Interferometry