Tech firm wins brief for global radio telescope project
A TECH company launched last year has won a contract to work on the international Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope, the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope.
Adaptive Array Systems, based in Cheadle won the work from The University of Manchester to provide design concepts for optical network termination and transmission equipment for SKA project.
Chris Shenton, chief executive and founder of AASL, said: “We are very pleased and excited to be involved with such a prestigious international project as the SKA; our proximity to Manchester and Jodrell Bank Observatory provides us with the opportunity to interact very closely with the project team during this phase of the design.
“The government has demonstrated its commitment to the SKA and we feel privileged to be contributing to such a significant scientific advancement. The selection as AASL as a partner in the project illustrates the skills and expertise we have in the company.”
The company will provide concepts and support to the University’s signal and data transport group during the concept generation phase.
The multi-million pound SKA project is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with a square kilometre (one million square metres) of collecting area. The SKA telescope will be co-located in Africa and in Australia.
The SKA Organisation has its headquarters at the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire. It was established in December 2011 as a not-for-profit company in order to formalise relationships between the 11 countries involved in the project.
