Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane launches 64-dish MeerKAT, 13 Jul

South Africa will celebrate a significant milestone in radio astronomy, with the launching of the 64-dish MeerKAT array on Friday, 13 July, in Carnarvon in the Northern Cape.

The MeerKAT will be the world's largest radio telescope of its kind until the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) has been completed, and will be integrated into Phase 1 of the mid-frequency component of the SKA.

When completed, the SKA will be 50 to 100 times more sensitive than any other radio telescope on Earth.  The SKA is expected to address fundamental questions about our universe, including how the first stars and galaxies were formed. It is being built by an international consortium, including Canada, China, India, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, and will be co-hosted in Africa and Australia.

Friday's event will be led by the Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane.  Former Science and Technology ministers, Ben Ngubane, Mosibudi Mangena, Derek Hanekom and Naledi Pandor, and the Northern Cape Premier, Sylvia Lucas, will also attend.

The media are invited as follows:

Day 1 (Thursday,12 July 2018)

Media briefing
Venue: Sassa Hall, Carnarvon
Time: 10:00-12:00

Media networking session
Venue: Lord Carnarvon Restaurant
Time: 18:00

Day 2 (Friday, 13 July)
Venue: SKA core site
Time: 06:00-13:00

NB: The SKA core site is a national key point, and therefore –

  • only SKA vehicles will be allowed inside (other vehicles must be parked at the entrance);
  • all journalists must have proof of identification to access the site.
     

Enquiries:
Veronica Mohapeloa (DST)
Cell: 083 400 5750
E-mail: Veronica.Mohapeloa@dst.gov.za

Lorenzo Raynard (SKA)
Cell: 071 454 0658

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