Science and Technology Minister Derek Hanekom has welcomed a UK contribution of R1.7 billion to the Square Kilometre Array project.<\/p>\n
“The significance… is in the impetus that this provides to implementation of Phase 1 of the SKA,” Hanekom said in a statement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
“This is a most welcome commitment and reaffirms the global partnership of the SKA countries in this mega project.”<\/p>\n
British Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willetts announced the allocation.<\/p>\n
South Africa itself has made a contribution of close to R4 billion for the MeerKAT and the associated human capital development programmes.<\/p>\n
South Africa is currently building the 64-dish MeerKAT radio telescope, a precursor to the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).<\/p>\n
The MeerKAT, with a further 190 antennas to be built on the same site, will make up the first phase of the mid-frequency component of the SKA.<\/p>\n
The second phase of the SKA will see further mid frequency antennas constructed across South Africa and in eight African SKA partner countries.<\/p>\n
Complementary components of the SKA will be located in Australia, the co-host country of what will be the world’s largest radio telescope.<\/p>\n
South Africa will launch its first MeerKAT antenna on 27 March 2014 and envisage completing the 64-dish array by 2016\/17.<\/p>\n
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