This is a movie rendered in three dimensions of a supercomputer simulation of a powerful relativistic jet interacting with dense clouds surrounding an active galactic nucleus.

The group have been studying these supernovae for several years and having analysed their data, have come to the surprising conclusion that far from slowing down, the rate of expansion of the universe is actually speeding up.

To keep size and weight down and communications capacity high, the consortium plans to us use Ka-band (26.5-40 GHz ) radio communication and highly directional transmitting and receiving antennae on the spacecraft.