Press Release

ESO Signs Largest Ever Ground-based Astronomy Contract for ELT Dome and Telescope Structure

25 May 2016

At a ceremony in Garching bei München, Germany on 25 May 2016, ESO signed the contract with the ACe Consortium, consisting of Astaldi, Cimolai and the nominated sub-contractor EIE Group, for the construction of the dome and telescope structure of the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). This is the largest contract ever awarded by ESO and also the largest contract ever in ground-based astronomy. This occasion saw the unveiling of the construction design of the ELT. Construction of the dome and telescope structure will now commence.

The Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), with a main mirror 39 metres in diameter, will be the largest optical/near-infrared telescope in the world: truly the world’s biggest eye on the sky. It will be constructed in northern Chile, on a site that has already been prepared.

The contract to build the telescope’s dome and structure was signed by ESO’s Director General, Tim de Zeeuw, the Chairman of Astaldi, Paolo Astaldi, and the President of Cimolai, Luigi Cimolai. ESO was delighted to welcome Italy’s Minister of Education, Universities and Research, H.E. Stefania Giannini, to the ceremony, which was also attended by the Italian Consul General in Munich, Renato Cianfarani, the ESO Council President, Patrick Roche, and the Italian ESO Council Delegates, Nicolò D’Amico (who is also President of INAF) and Matteo Pardo, Scientific Attaché at the Italian Embassy in Berlin. The President of EIE, Gianpietro Marchiori, and other guests and representatives of the consortium were also present.

The contract covers the design, manufacture, transport, construction, on-site assembly and verification of the dome and telescope structure. With an approximate value of 400 million euros, it is the largest contract ever awarded by ESO and the largest contract ever in ground-based astronomy.

The ELT dome and telescope structure will take telescope engineering into new territory. The contract includes not only the enormous 85-metre-diameter rotating dome, with a total mass of around 5000 tonnes, but also the telescope mounting and tube structure, with a total moving mass of more than 3000 tonnes. Both of these structures are by far the largest ever built for an optical/infrared telescope and dwarf all existing ones. The dome is almost 80 metres high and its footprint is comparable in area to a football pitch.

The ELT is being built on Cerro Armazones, a 3000-metre peak about 20 kilometres from ESO’s Paranal Observatory. The access road and leveling of the summit have already been completed and work on the dome is expected to start on site in 2017.

Tim de Zeeuw, ESO’s Director General said: "The ELT will produce discoveries that we simply cannot imagine today, and it will inspire people around the world to think about science, technology and our place in the Universe. Today's signature is a key step towards delivering the ELT in 2024."

Paolo Astaldi, Chairman of Astaldi added: “This project is truly visionary, both in what it represents for the field of astronomy and for construction and engineering. Astaldi and our project partners, Cimolai and EIE Group, are extremely proud to have been selected by ESO through their call for tender to help make their vision a reality. Astaldi is renowned for delivering its best-in-class technical skills, quality construction and strong execution, and we will put the full force of our core strengths behind this project. It is with great excitement that I sign a contract of such astronomical ambition.”

Luigi Cimolai, President of Cimolai, said: “We are honoured and grateful that our company has been given the opportunity to take part in this technically advanced astronomical challenge. The European Extremely Large Telescope will demand a high degree of quality in engineering and construction and I believe this will definitely contribute to further increase our ability to develop projects of greater and greater complexity.”

Many other aspects of the construction of the ELT are also moving forward rapidly. ESO has already signed agreements for the construction of the first-light instruments MICADO, HARMONI and METIS, as well as the MAORY adaptive optics system for the ELT. Contracts for the telescope’s huge secondary mirror will be signed in the near future.

The light-collecting area of the ELT will be bigger than all existing optical research telescopes combined and its adaptive optics system will provide images about 15 times sharper than those from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope at the same wavelength. It offers numerous possibilities for technology and engineering spin-offs, technology transfer and technology contracting. The new contract demonstrates that the ELT has the potential to be a powerhouse for economic development, offering contractors in ESO’s Member States an opportunity to lead major projects at an international level.

More information

ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It is supported by 16 countries: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Czechia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope, the world’s most advanced visible-light astronomical observatory and two survey telescopes. VISTA works in the infrared and is the world’s largest survey telescope and the VLT Survey Telescope is the largest telescope designed to exclusively survey the skies in visible light. ESO is a major partner in ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.

Links

Contacts

Richard Hook
ESO, Public Information Officer
Garching bei München, Germany
Tel: +49 89 3200 6655
Cell: +49 151 1537 3591
Email: rhook@eso.org

Alessandra Onorati
Media Contact for the ACe Consortium
Email: A.Onorati@Astaldi.com

Connect with ESO on social media

About the Release

Release No.:eso1617
Name:Extremely Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Facility:Extremely Large Telescope

Images

ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for the E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for the E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
Artist's rendering of the Extremely Large Telescope
Artist's rendering of the Extremely Large Telescope
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
The E-ELT showing the secondary mirror housing
The E-ELT showing the secondary mirror housing
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
The E-ELT compared to St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria
The E-ELT compared to St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria
The E-ELT compared to the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium
The E-ELT compared to the Atomium in Brussels, Belgium
The E-ELT compared to the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The E-ELT compared to the statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The E-ELT compared to the Ještěd Tower in Czechia
The E-ELT compared to the Ještěd Tower in Czechia
The E-ELT compared to the Round Tower in Copenhagen, Denmark
The E-ELT compared to the Round Tower in Copenhagen, Denmark
The E-ELT compared to Turku Cathedral, Finland
The E-ELT compared to Turku Cathedral, Finland
The E-ELT compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France
The E-ELT compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France
The E-ELT compared to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
The E-ELT compared to the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany
The E-ELT compared to the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
The E-ELT compared to the Colosseum in Rome, Italy
The E-ELT compared to the Nemo Building in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The E-ELT compared to the Nemo Building in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The E-ELT compared to St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków, Poland
The E-ELT compared to St. Mary's Basilica in Kraków, Poland
The E-ELT compared to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Lisbon, Portugal
The E-ELT compared to the Padrão dos Descobrimentos in Lisbon, Portugal
The E-ELT compared to the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain
The E-ELT compared to the Sagrada Família in Barcelona, Spain
The E-ELT compared to the Lilla Bommen building in Gothenburg, Sweden
The E-ELT compared to the Lilla Bommen building in Gothenburg, Sweden
The E-ELT compared to Bern Cathedral, Switzerland
The E-ELT compared to Bern Cathedral, Switzerland
The E-ELT compared to Big Ben in London, United Kingdom
The E-ELT compared to Big Ben in London, United Kingdom
The E-ELT compared to the VLT
The E-ELT compared to the VLT
Size comparison between the E-ELT and other telescope mirrors
Size comparison between the E-ELT and other telescope mirrors
Size comparison between the ELT and other telescope domes
Size comparison between the ELT and other telescope domes
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for E-ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for ELT dome and telescope structure
ESO signs largest ever ground-based astronomy contract for ELT dome and telescope structure
The ELT compared to the Rosse telescope in Ireland
The ELT compared to the Rosse telescope in Ireland
The ELT compared to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway
The ELT compared to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway
The ELT compared to the Spire of Dublin, Ireland
The ELT compared to the Spire of Dublin, Ireland
The ELT compared to the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA
The ELT compared to the Statue of Liberty in New York, USA
The ELT compared to La Portada natural arch in Chile
The ELT compared to La Portada natural arch in Chile
The ELT compared to the Vancouver Science World in Canada
The ELT compared to the Vancouver Science World in Canada
The ELT compared to the Sydney Opera House in Australia
The ELT compared to the Sydney Opera House in Australia
The ELT compared to the Manchester Central Convention Complex in the UK
The ELT compared to the Manchester Central Convention Complex in the UK
The ELT compared to the Manchester Etihad Stadium in the UK
The ELT compared to the Manchester Etihad Stadium in the UK
Telescopes and football
Telescopes and football
An artistic rendering of an open telescope dome standing next to the silhouette of Big Ben's clock tower over a blue background. The tower is only slightly taller than the telescope.
Size comparison of the ELT and Big Ben

Videos

ESOcast 84: The New E-ELT Design Unveiled
ESOcast 84: The New E-ELT Design Unveiled
The European Extremely Large Telescope
The European Extremely Large Telescope
Opening up the E-ELT
Opening up the E-ELT
Close-up of the E-ELT in its dome
Close-up of the E-ELT in its dome
Close-up view of the E-ELT in its dome
Close-up view of the E-ELT in its dome
The E-ELT dome opening
The E-ELT dome opening
ESO Signs Largest Ever Ground-based Astronomy Contract for E-ELT Dome and Telescope Structure
ESO Signs Largest Ever Ground-based Astronomy Contract for E-ELT Dome and Telescope Structure
Light's five-mirror journey through the ELT
Light's five-mirror journey through the ELT
Light's five-mirror journey through the E-ELT (no text)
Light's five-mirror journey through the E-ELT (no text)