gmto corporation the organization managing the development of the giant magellan telescope (gmt) on behalf of its us and international founders including texas a&m university has signed a contract with mt mechatronics and ingersoll machine tools to design build and install the telescopes precision steel structure latest design of the giant magellan telescope enclosure telescope and site at las campanas observatory in chile (credit: gmto corporation) the gmt is a 245-meter (80-ft) diameter next-generation giant optical-infrared observatory that will explore the frontiers of astronomy including seeking to answer one of humanitys most pressing questions: are we alone the gmt will study the atmospheres of planets orbiting stars far from our solar system to search for signs of biochemistry mt mechatronics of mainz germany and rockford illinois-based ingersoll machine tools part of the italian camozzi group will design and manufacture the 1 800-ton precision mechanism known as the telescope structure that will hold the gmts optics and smoothly track celestial targets as they move across the sky the telescope structure will be designed by mt mechatronics and manufactured assembled and tested by ingersoll before being shipped to and installed at the gmt observatory site high in the remote chilean andes the total value of the telescope structure contract is $135 million and will require nine years of effort by a large workforce of engineers designers metal workers and machinists the contract was signed by mt mechatronics senior vice president thomas zimmerer ingersoll machine tools ceo chip storie and by gmto president dr robert n shelton and project manager dr james fanson the gmt telescope structure showing the six 84-meter off-axis segments arrayed around a central on-axis 84-meter segment that comprises gmts unique primary mirror configuration the grey cylinder at the bottom is the telescope pier – the concrete foundations the widest orange ring designates the observing floor of the enclosure the grey semi-circular structure above this is known as the c-ring the c-ring structure is supported by 16 radial hydrostatic bearings that counteract the force of gravity and allow the telescope to move smoothly the light blue hexagonal structures are the mirror cells that hold the primary mirrors and their support mechanisms finally at the top of the main truss the top end supports the secondary mirror assembly (credit: gmto corporation) manufacturing the telescope structure is one of the biggest steps we will take on our journey to building the giant magellan telescope shelton said we selected mt mechatronics and ingersoll machine tools for their commitment to quality extensive experience with astronomical telescopes and abilities to manufacture complex precision structures following a two-year global competition fanson added the telescope structure will hold the gmts seven giant mirrors in place as they bring light from distant stars and galaxies to a focus so it can be analyzed by scientific instruments mounted deep inside the telescope the mirrors the largest in the world are made at the university of arizonas richard f caris mirror laboratory when in operation the telescope structure complete with mirrors and instruments will weigh 2 100 tons but will float on a film of oil just 50 microns (2 one-thousandths of an inch) thick – allowing it to move essentially without friction as it compensates for earths rotation tracking celestial bodies in their arc across the sky with its unique design the gmt will produce images that are 10 times sharper than those from the hubble space telescope in the infrared region of the spectrum being a part of an endeavor with objectives as distinguished as the giant magellan telescopes is compelling for mt mechatronics and were eager to support the gmt on its quest to answer the deepest questions in astronomy zimmerer said we look forward to collaborating with gmto over the next decade to bring the telescopes massive structure to fruition we are happy to work with gmto and mtm to create this unique tool for the study of new worlds said camozzi group ceo lodovico camozzi the project honors and motivates all of us at ingersoll it will be a special day when the gmts telescope structure is completed and placed in service in chile storie added mt mechatronics has more than 50 years experience with telescopes beginning with the parkes radio telescope in australia it was part of a european consortium constructing the european atacama large millimeter/submillimeter array (alma) telescope antennas as well as the mount designer for the daniel k inouye solar telescope (dkist) in hawaii latest design of the giant magellan telescope enclosure telescope and site at las campanas observatory in chile with a night sky background (credit: m3 engineering and gmto corporation) since its inception in 1891 ingersoll machine tools inc has been an iconic name in the milling machines sector successfully serving the defense sector and then the newborn aeronautics and aerospace industry ingersoll has many decades of experience with manufacturing precision steel structures including recently partnering with mt mechatronics on the construction of the dkist telescope mount the contract between gmto mt mechatronics and ingersoll machine tools will involve nine years of work and 1 300 tons of structural steel the structure is expected to be delivered to chile at the end of 2025 and be ready to accept mirrors in 2028 the mount contract completes another significant milestone for gmto in 2019 in march the excavations for the foundations of the telescopes pier and enclosure were finished and in july the second of gmts seven primary mirror segments was completed and shipped to temporary storage casting of the sixth primary mirror segment at the university of arizona is expected to begin in mid-2020 # # # # # # # # # # about the giant magellan telescope: the giant magellan telescope is a next-generation ground-based telescope that promises to revolutionize our understanding and view of the universe the gmt is poised to enable breakthrough discoveries in cosmology the study of black holes dark matter dark energy and the search for life beyond our solar system the telescopes primary mirror combines seven 84-meter (27 feet) diameter circular segments to form an effective aperture 245 meters in diameter the gmt will be located at las campanas observatory in chiles atacama desert and the project is the work of a distinguished international consortium of leading universities and science institutions funding for the project comes from the partner institutions governments and private donors about the giant magellan telescope organization: the giant magellan telescope organization (gmto) manages the gmt project on behalf of its international partners: arizona state university astronomy australia ltd the australian national university carnegie institution for science fundação de amparo à pesquisa do estado de são paulo harvard university korea astronomy and space science institute smithsonian institution texas a&m university the university of arizona the university of chicago and the university of texas at austin for more information visit wwwgmtoorg about research at texas a&m university: as one of the worlds leading research institutions texas a&m is at the forefront in making significant contributions to scholarship and discovery including in science and technology research conducted at texas a&m generated annual expenditures of more than $922 million in fiscal year 2018 texas a&m ranked in the top 20 of the national science foundations higher education research and development survey (2017) based on expenditures of more than $9054 million in fiscal year 2017 texas a&ms research creates new knowledge that provides basic fundamental and applied contributions resulting in many cases in economic benefits to the state nation and world to learn more visit http://researchtamuedu -atm- contact: amanda kocz akocz@gmtoorg; dr robert n shelton rshelton@gmtoorg; or dr james fanson jfanson@gmtoorg the post giant magellan telescope signs contract for telescope structure appeared first on college of science share: