Paper 13094-1
Paper 13094-1
The GMT site, enclosure, and facilities: 2024 design and construction update
16 June 2024 • 10:10 - 10:30 Japan Standard Time | Room G403/404, North - 4F
Abstract
The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), one of three extremely large telescopes (ELTs) in development, will be located on the summit of Cerro Las Campanas, a peak within the property of the Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) in Chile. The GMT employs seven 8.4m monolithic mirrors as segments to form a single optical surface with an equivalent diameter of 25.4 meters. Developing a new observatory for cutting-edge science operations and a 50-year lifespan poses a variety of design and construction challenges. This paper reports on progress since 2020, including the latest developments for the GMT site master plan, and work completed for the site infrastructure, telescope enclosure, and support facilities. In late 2021, GMTO selected IDOM (Bilbao, Spain) to mature the enclosure from its preliminary reference design through to final design and documents (drawings and specification) for construction. Over the last two years, the designs for enclosure structures, mechanisms, pier seismic isolation system, and related control systems have been refined as they passed through a 60% critical design review in May 2023, and the final design review (FDR) in May 2024. Construction work at the GMTO site started in 2015, and over the past four years has seen completion of the underground utility distribution systems and preparations for start of enclosure construction.
Presenter
GMTO Corp. (United States)
Dr. Bruce Bigelow has 35 years of experience managing, designing, building, and commissioning science instruments and major subsystems for large ground and space-based astronomical observatories. His education includes a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering and a PhD in optical physics. He is currently leading the team responsible for the design and construction of the enclosure and facilities for the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT). His management and engineering experience includes privately funded projects, as well as those funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF) and the US Department of Energy (DoE). He has authored more than two dozen conference proceedings and journal articles in the areas of astronomical telescopes and instrumentation and has chaired or served on more than 40 external review panels for US and international astronomical projects.