participants in the signing of the historic agreement. Credit: ESO
Go to Italy the largest contract ever awarded for a project of Astronomy Earth was signed today at the headquarters of the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the contract from the total of about 400 million euros for the construction of the dome and the mechanical structure of the telescope support E-ELT (European Extremely large telescope) which with its primary mirror 39 meters in diameter, will be the largest telescope optical / infrared ever built. The contract was awarded to the consortium of Italian companies ACe comprising Astaldi, Cimolai and EIE group subcontractor named. The telescope E-ELT is also the result of technological and scientific intelligentsia developed within the Institute of Astrophysics, established in the country through a continuous National Industry involvement.
The INAF, which according the most authoritative international rankings is one of the most prestigious research institutes in the world, also it generates with the E-ELT – but not only – significant industrial returns for the country. Over the last fifteen years it is estimated that the contracts awarded by the domestic industry for the realization of the most prestigious international astronomical infrastructures have reached the figure of about 800 million. None of this happens by chance, but is the result of INAF ability to develop on the inside of cutting-edge technologies and to transfer to the domestic industry the know-how .
” If it is true that the ESO’s policy is based on a principle of return value , that is a fair return both scientific and economical for member countries, it is also true that this is not a principle garantista ” he says Nicholas D’Amico , President of INAF. “Basically, in ESO the best wins, and the utilization rate of the Italian ESO telescopes and the industrial return for the country have now reached the absolute record values,” says D’Amico.
the Minister of Education, University and research, Stefania Giannini , “today in the prestigious ESO celebrate another success of public research and Italian industrial excellence in Europe. With the award of the contract to carry out the mechanical structure and the dome of the extremely large European telescope (EELT) Italy confirms its leadership in scientific fields of high technology that link eyes to worlds always fascinating for ‘humanity. A challenge – added the Minister Giannini – won thanks to a positive and active alliance between a quality research, we support not only economically, and dynamic Italian companies, solid and internationally. The National Research Programme by 2.5 billion will be an accelerator and a multiplier of opportunities in other areas, by encouraging positive interaction between public and private. “
The contract was signed by Director General of ESO Tim de Zeeuw, the chairman of Astaldi, Paolo Astaldi and the president of Cimolai, Luigi Cimolai. The signing ceremony was attended by the Minister of Education, University and Research, Hon. Stefania Giannini, the Consul General of Italy in Monaco Renato Cianfrani, the president of the Council of Patrick Roche ESO and Italian delegates at the ESO Council, or President National Institute for Astrophysics, Nicholas D’Amico, and Matthew Pardo, scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Berlin, in addition to the President of the IEE Gianpiero Marchiori and other representatives of the consortium.
the design execution of these two components of the mammoth super telescope future is thus completed. The contract includes the design, construction, transportation, construction, assembly on the site where it will be placed E-ELT and the final assessment of the dome and the mechanical structure of the telescope. The realization of these two structures is a real engineering challenge, which will see the realization of a dome with a diameter of 80 meters fully rotating that will have a total mass of about 5000 tons, but also the setting of the telescope and the structure where they will be housed its optical, movable with a total mass of more than 3000 tons. To give an idea of the total size of the E-ELT, the overall height of its structure, equal to about 90 meters, is that of a 30-storey building and the surface of its plant is approximately that of a football field.
the telescope is being built on Cerro Armazones, the Chilean Andes, at an altitude of 3000 meters and about 20 kilometers away from the Observatory of Paranal Observatory. The works for the construction of the service road and site leveling which will stand E-ELT have been completed and the start of work on the construction of the dome is scheduled for 2017.
Italy ESO participates as a member through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which delegates the national representation to the President in office of the Institute of Astrophysics. All’INAF responsible for coordination of the policy National for astrophysics and the development of research and development in this area. The INAF finances the activities of participation in the project E-ELT ESO through a Ministry of Education funding in addition to the statutory share in the load broadcasted on RAI, the Italian industry and promotes participation in various stages of development and construction of infrastructure.
source: Media INAF | Written by Editor Media Inaf
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