Africa ready to host SKA

African partner countries for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope are intensifying efforts to win the bid to host the largest radio telescope.

SA is up against Australia to host the SKA, a mega telescope, about 100 times more sensitive than the biggest existing radio telescope. SKA funders are expected to announce the host country in March 2012.

“Though both sites have been found to be excellent to host the SKA, it is necessary to determine which of the two locations is best in terms of quality of site and cost to construct. Other possible criteria, such as socio-economic impact and favourable weather conditions, may be considered in site selection,” says the Department of Science and Technology (DST).

It adds that the African partner countries met in Ghana recently to strengthen efforts to gain the bid.

“The sharing of information and the commitment and enthusiasm shown by the partner countries has emphasised Africa's strengths in providing the best site for the SKA science. This leads to the conclusion: Africa is ready to host the Square Kilometre Array telescope.”

The African effort to host the SKA is made up of nine partner countries, which will ultimately host the SKA telescope stations. The partner countries are Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, SA and Zambia.

“The African SKA initiative has another category of co-operation called the SKA African Associate Countries, which is participating in the training of students to become global experts in astronomy, engineering and information technology. Membership to become an SKA African Associate Country is open to all African countries,” adds the DST.

It says that, in order to ensure the African offer to host the SKA is successful, a working group (comprising government representatives and technical experts) and a Steering Committee (comprising permanent secretaries or their equivalents) was set up in April 2008 to collectively resolve issues surrounding the bid and provide the best strategic direction for astronomy and associated people development.

“Africa has made good progress over the past few years in an effort to host the SKA,” says the department.

It explains that examples of this progress are displayed in the African Union's endorsement of Africa's bid to be host; the support from the precursor group to the African Ministers' Council of Science and Technology; and the pronouncement by President Jacob Zuma on the positive impact of the African SKA on ICT development on the continent.

The African Physical Society, which is made up of physicists and mathematicians, also agreed to fully support Africa's pursuit to provide a site for the SKA, according to the DST.

“This support is an endorsement by the research community of Africa that advances a collective African vision to further grow frontier research and technology development.”

The final decision regarding the successful host country for the telescope is expected in 2012, with work due to start in 2013. Operations will start in 2015, provided a significant portion of the array has been commissioned.

The SKA will consist of approximately 3 000 dish-shaped antennae and other hybrid receiving technologies, with a core of about 2 000 antennae. These stations will be spread over a vast area of up to 3 000km.

The core of the telescope will be located in Carnarvon, in the Northern Cape, with about three antenna stations in Namibia, four in Botswana and one each in Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia. Each antenna station will consist of about 30 to 40 individual antennae.

At an estimated construction cost of $2 billion, the SKA is poised to be by far the largest radio telescope in the world, and consolidate Africa as a major hub for astronomy in the world, says the DST.