This Monday marks the groundbreaking ceremony for one of the greatest science projects of this century. It was planned for 30 years. “Now this moment is getting real,” Professor Phil Diamond, director-general of the so-called square kilometer field (SKA), told the BBC.
SKA, in England’s Square Kilometer Array, includes about 200 parabolic or satellite dishes and 131,000 dipole antennas that resemble Christmas trees. The factories will be built in equal parts in Western Australia and South Africa.
The SKA is described by scientists as a breakthrough innovation and an important milestone in astronomical research. The measurements should help to clarify the most important questions in astrophysics.
Switzerland is also involved in research
The mega telescope, which is expected to be ready in 2028, should be able to detect the weakest radio signals from space; Signals coming from cosmic sources billions of light years from Earth. Signals are also expected to be emitted in the first few hundred million years after the Big Bang.
The facilities should enable scientists to look back to the early days of the universe, when the first stars and galaxies formed. It will also be used to study so-called “dark energy” and the reasons for the expansion of the universe – and to search for extraterrestrial life.
The estimated total cost of construction is approximately $2 billion. Ultimately, the systems must cover an area of one million square kilometers. Switzerland has also been a member of the international research consortium SKA since May.