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Constructing Telescopes in Antarctica
John W.V. Storey
Image: Tony Travouillon
Getting the components there,
building the telescope,
and operating it.
Image: John Storey
• Davis• Mawson• Casey
• Hobart
Dome C is a French/Italian station that will be open year-round from 2005
Dome C
Image:
Australian Antarctic Division
Logistic support of Dome C is via Hobart.
Image: John Storey
L’Astrolabe brings heavy items from Hobart to Dumont d’Urville in 6 days...
Image: John Storey
...thence by tractor-traverse to Dome C.Image: Patrik Kaufmann
The tractor-traverse takes 11 days to get from the coast to Dome C.
• Three traverses/year (currently)
• Each traverse delivers ~150 tonnes
• Fuel consumption 600 litres/tonne
• Twelve-metre sleds – essentially no size or weight restrictions
Image:
Australian Antarctic Division
From 2005, the Australian Antarctic Division air-link will be in place.
Dome C3.9 hrs
The AASTINO was assembled by 3 people in 10 hours, at -30C.
Image: Patrik Kaufmann
Let’s assume that things take twice at long at Dome C...
Image: Geanpiero Venturi
...because some people just can’t resist goofing off.
Image: Karim Agabi
Image: Patrik Kaufmann
Image: John Storey
Image: EOST
EOST estimate for construction times (temperate site) for 2-metre telescope.
Mech Eng 3 – 4 weeks
Mech Tech 2 – 3 weeks
Elec Eng 2 weeks
Optical Eng 1 week
SW Eng 2 week
Total (worst case):
• 14 person-weeks
• 6 weeks elapsed time
• 5 personnel
Image: EOST
Let’s double these times (to account for the goofing off).
Total (worst case):
• 28 person-weeks
• 12 weeks elapsed time
• 5 personnel
This represents less than the combined UNSW and University of Nice deployment at Dome C for a single summer.
Construction costs
Image: John Storey
Image: John Storey
What did it cost us to build the AASTINO at Dome C, and what would it have cost if we’d done it at Siding Spring?
Dome C (actual costs) $Road transport, Sydney – Hobart, 4 tonnes (includes separate “dangerous goods” shipping) 5185Return airfare Sydney – Hobart, three people @ $500 1,860Accommodation in Hobart, 2 nights x 3 people 720Hire of bulldozer, 8 hrs 0Hire of crane, 2 x 1/2 day 0Connection to power grid 0Hire of three 2-way radios, 4 weeks 0Hire of container during construction 0Jet A1 fuel; 2,300 litres 0
------
Total Dome C $7,765
Siding Spring (estimated costs based on quotes) $Road transport, Sydney – SSO, 4 tonnes 2,000Hire of car, 4 weeks @ $300/week 1,200Accommodation at Lodge, 28 nights x 3 people @ $102.30 8,593Hire of bulldozer, 8 hrs @ $150/hr 1,200Hire of crane, 2 x 1/2 day @ $900 per 1/2 day 1,800Connection to power grid (including pole) 950Hire of three 2-way radios, 4 weeks 300Hire of container during construction 2,500Jet A1 fuel; 2,300 litres 2,300
-------
Total Siding Spring $20,843
PILOT: Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope
Image: Patrik Kaufmann
For PILOT (15 tonnes gross weight), let’s ignore the possible savings, take the worst case and double it, and assume we have to pay for all the transport...
We’ll pay for our share of the icebreaker charter, and our share of its operating costs...
Image: John Storey
...we’ll pay for our share of the tractor-traverse to Dome C.
Image: Patrik Kaufmann
Image: Patrik Kaufmann
Then that all comes to...
...5% of an Astrolabe voyage, plus 10% of a traverse...
= A$54k.
...plus GST
Of course, there are also the violent storms that dump metres of snow in just a few hours...
...but fortunately they only occur on Mauna Kea. (Image courtesy Keck Observatory)
