South Africa says it is ready to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) but it remains uncertain when the announcement on the host country will be made.
“The main message you should take away today is that South Africa is ready to host SKA. Africa will become a global hub for astronomy. New facilities will see research done and not simply draw those who want to mine minerals in Africa and leave,” science and technology minister Naledi Pandor said at a media briefing on Thursday.
But the SKA organisation, the international consortium planning to commission the project announced this week it is still debating whether South Africa or Australia should host the multibillion dollar project.
If South Africa wins the bidding, engineers will connect antennas in the arid Karoo region by remote link to a network of dishes stretching across Southern and Eastern Africa and as far away as Ghana.
Australia’s bid puts the core site at Mileura station, about 100 kilometres west of Meekathara in Western Australia. Other antennas would be distributed across Australia and New Zealand.
It was initially understood a decision on the location of SKA would be made by the board of directors by April 4 but this seems to no longer be the case.
Outstanding issues relating to how the satellite dishes will be configured as well as an agreement on the method of measuring possible radio frequency at the station needs to be established before a firm decision is made by the consortium.
“If all the issues can be resolved one the first day of the meeting, then the board could possibly look at discussing how to make the announcement [of their preferred bidder],” Phil Mjwara, science and technology director-general said.
It is understood the SKA which will be made up of hundreds of antennas picking up faint signals from the outer universe, is expected to be 100 times more sensitive than the most powerful radio telescopes in use today.
The project aims to assist scientists in answering questions about the universe ranging from how it first came to being, why it is continually expanding to if there are sustained life forms elsewhere.
“Hosting SKA in South Africa will be a dramatic statement of what we’re capable of. It will draw some the globe’s greatest minds who will want to conduct research in this country,” said SKA South Africa project director, Dr Bernie Fanaroff.
There have been media reports based on leaks that South Africa is the preferred bidder, but were strongly denied in their aftermath.
“You’re from the media. You should decide whether you trust what the media writes,” Fanaroff said. — Additional reporting by Sapa