Pandor disappointed over SKA delay

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Pandor disappointed over SKA delay

South Africa , 04 Apr 2012

Pandor disappointed over SKA delay

Science and technology minister Naledi Pandor is “disappointed” that the decision as to which country will host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has been delayed.

SA is up against the Australia-New Zealand joint submission in a bid to host the SKA telescope, which will be the largest in the world.

The SKA Organisation met this week and yesterday issued a brief statement saying it “wished to move ahead with the site selection process”. It said it “recognised that it is desirable to maintain an inclusive approach to SKA”.

“It is important to maximise the value from the investments made by both candidate host regions,” said the organisation. As a result, a small scientific working group will be set up to explore “options” to achieve maximum value.

The working group will report back to the organisation`s members in the middle of next month. Its report will provide additional information to facilitate the site decision for SKA.

Thrilling science

In response, Pandor said she was “disappointed” at the delay. “I hope that the SKA Organisation will make a decision in the first half of 2012 and that the decision will reflect the best scientific outcome.”

Last month, the SKA Organisation issued a statement in which it said this week`s meeting would be “the start of a process of discussion and negotiation between the members”, and may not lead to the expected winner being announced.

If SA wins the bid, the SKA will comprise about 3 000 dish-shaped antennae spread over a wide area in the Karoo region, in the Northern Cape. Outlying telescope stations will be built throughout SA, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, Madagascar and Mauritius.

“We believe we have an excellent site at which exciting science will be done; we in Africa are ready to host the SKA,” said Pandor.

The SKA will be a mega telescope, about 100 times more sensitive than the biggest existing radio telescope. It will cost about €1.5 billion, with construction possibly starting as early as 2016, and is expected to be completed by 2024.

A local demonstration telescope, MeerKAT, is being constructed in two phases. The seven-dish array prototype was completed in 2010 and the project should be wrapped up by 2013/14.