The Aperture Array Verification System (AAVS1) is being used to help test and finalise the design of the low frequency antennas for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). It was installed by an international team from Australia, Italy, Malta, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom over many months, sometimes in harsh conditions.
The work is part of a global effort by 12 international engineering consortia representing 500 engineers and scientists in 20 countries.
Nine of the consortia focus on a component of the telescope, each critical to the overall success of the project, while three others focus on developing advanced instrumentation for the telescope.
After four years of intense design work, the nine consortia are having their Critical Design Review or CDR in 2018.
In this final stage, the proposed design must meet the project’s tough engineering requirements to be approved, so that a construction proposal for the telescope can be developed.
AAVS1 has been heavily supported by scientists, engineers and data-intensive astronomy specialists from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) in Perth, Western Australia.
For more information, visit:
ska.gov.au
skatelescope.org/lfaa/
icrar.org
cdr.skatelescope.org/
