At its best, RadioAstron will be able to resolve points separated by an angle of just 7 microarcseconds, about 10, 000 times the resolution of the Hubble Space Telescope.
RadioAstron will also examine pulsars and the outer regions of spiral galaxies in order to get more precise measurements on their rate of rotation and distance from earth.
With the launch of the RadioAstron telescope on board a Zenit-2SB rocket this morning, Russia has embarked on the first stage of a plan to create the largest radio telescope yet.