05-25-2016, 11:56 AM
T+9MT construction contract released. The Thirty Nine Meter Telescope is called the European-Extremely Large Telescope. Cost is 400 million Euros or about $800 million, $600 million less than TMT. First light is planned for 2022 if full funding is provided, delayed to 2024 if funds staggered.
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/a...-telescope
Estimates for TMT are 8 years to first light from first construction. If it is in court for a year, that would mean 2025. The E-ELT will be much larger, 39 meters versus 30 meters, cost 40% less and probably be operational a couple years before the TMT. The TMT would be better cutting their losses now, go back to the Atacama site and start construction right away. otherwise, it is going to be yesterday's news by the time it gets finished, which in Hawaii, you know is going to take twice as long and cost twice as much as the original estimate.
These are the last of the ground based optical telescopes. One thing that has happened is launch costs have been decreased to 1/3 of what they were a few years ago. The cost benefit of space based telescopes has greatly swung in their favor over bigger and bigger ground based observatories.
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/05/a...-telescope
Estimates for TMT are 8 years to first light from first construction. If it is in court for a year, that would mean 2025. The E-ELT will be much larger, 39 meters versus 30 meters, cost 40% less and probably be operational a couple years before the TMT. The TMT would be better cutting their losses now, go back to the Atacama site and start construction right away. otherwise, it is going to be yesterday's news by the time it gets finished, which in Hawaii, you know is going to take twice as long and cost twice as much as the original estimate.
These are the last of the ground based optical telescopes. One thing that has happened is launch costs have been decreased to 1/3 of what they were a few years ago. The cost benefit of space based telescopes has greatly swung in their favor over bigger and bigger ground based observatories.
"Aloha also means goodbye. Aloha!"
*Japanese tourist on bus through Pahoa, "Is this still America?*