Assembly of the first backup structure

The first Backup Structure (BUS) for a European antenna is assembled at the ALMA Operations Support Facility (OSF). The BUS supports the dish, the collecting surface of the antenna. These structures, 12 metres in diameter each, are transported divided in two halves, which are joined later, as part of the assembly process. ALMA is initially composed of a main array of fifty 12-metre antennas and an additional compact array of four 12-metre and twelve 7-metre antennas, to observe the Universe at millimetre and submillimetre wavelengths. ALMA is currently under construction at 5000 metres altitude on the Chajnantor plateau, in the Chilean Andes.

Credit:

ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Stanghellini (ESO)

About the Image

Id:alma-sstanghe-6
Type:Photographic
Release date:27 April 2010, 10:35
Size:3872 x 2592 px

About the Object

Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Category:ALMA

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