The Square Kilometre Array Observatory mission is to "build and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes to transform our understanding of the Universe and deliver benefits to society through global collaboration and innovation". It will initially realise this through the construction of the world's largest radio telescope facility, composed of a pair of interferometric arrays, SKA-Low (Australia; 50-350MHz; 74km max baseline) and SKA-Mid (South Africa; 350MHz-15.4GHz; 150km max baseline). With the construction approved in July 2021, and permitting access provided to both sites by December 2022, we describe the high-level construction strategy, in particular, to develop the earliest possible working demonstration of the architecture and then maintain a continuously working and expanding facility that demonstrates the full performance capabilities of the SKA design. We report the current status of the infrastructure development, component manufacture, array deployments and system integration on both sites. We highlight the progress to-date against the planning baselines for budget, schedule and performance to indicate the trajectories for community engagement and early science. We also note the challenges encountered and navigated in the execution of global, large research infrastructure construction as well as the broader impacts for such investments, beyond the planned scientific research.
The MeerKAT telescope is a radio interferometer consisting of 64 13.5 m diameter dishes. It started its first science observations in April 2018, while commissioning of new observational modes continues up to now. We discuss the processes and develop over the course of the last five years, as we adapted to the ways that telescope usage evolved. The science program consists of a mix of large Survey projects (through a once-off call for proposals), open time proposals solicited through yearly calls, Director’s discretionary time and science verification projects. As the large Survey projects reach completion, the emphasis of science operations is shifting to open calls, with many new users introduced to the telescope each year. Additional challenges are being experienced in providing support to a growing user base and enabling access to a rapidly growing archive of observations exiting their proprietary periods.
The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project will build the largest radio telescope in the world with telescope facilities deployed in Australia and South Africa covering a frequency range from 50 MHz to 15 GHz (initial phase). The approval for the start of construction from its governing Council occurred in June 2021. This paper reviews the key science drivers and the outline observatory organization, design summary and site locations. We note the current progress and status of the SKA construction and projected schedule, noting the challenges within the current global climate.
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