Why in the news?

• The scientists at Raman Research Institute of Bengaluru have developed a compact digital receiver system for a proposed space payload called PRATUSH (Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen).

PRATUSH Radiometer

• What is it?:
  • PRATUSH stands for Probing ReionizATion of the Universe using Signal from Hydrogen.
  • Designed as a radiometer payload in lunar orbit, particularly over the far side of the Moon, which provides a shielded, radio-quiet environment ideal for detecting faint cosmic signals.
  • Its primary aim is to observe the Cosmic Dawn– the period when the first stars and galaxies formed, and the subsequent Epoch of Reionization (EoR) of the Universe.
• Developed by: The Raman Research Institute (RRI) in Bengaluru, in collaboration with ISRO and supported by DST, Government of India.
• Scientific Importance:
  • Targets detection of the 21-cm hydrogen signal, which traces the state and evolution of neutral hydrogen during the Cosmic Dawn and EoR.
  • Earth-based detection is severely hampered by radio-frequency interference (RFI) and ionospheric distortion; lunar far-side placement overcomes these limitations.
• Operating Strategy:
  • Intends to observe large sky regions continuously, recording beam-averaged radio spectra with high spectral resolution.
  • The nominal mission lifetime is projected to be around two years, enabling high signal-to-noise accumulation and comprehensive sky coverage.