Cabinet Approves Rs 1,250 crore as India Contribution for World Largest Radio Telescope Project

Space News ,India :- India is set to make a substantial contribution of ₹1,250 crore to the groundbreaking Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project, aimed at constructing the world largest radio-telescope. This monumental initiative will span two continents, with radio telescopes strategically placed in remote, radio-quiet locations in western Australia near Perth and in South Africa near Cape Town. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for this financial commitment, marking a significant step towards advancing humanity comprehension of the universe, from its origins to the emergence of life.

The SKA project involves the collaboration of more than 10 nations, with India playing a crucial role in the development of cutting-edge technology. The state-of-the-art instrument, powered by some of the world fastest supercomputers, promises to provide detailed insights into the inner workings of galaxies, enhance our understanding of black holes, and track gravitational waves, among other ambitious scientific investigations.

The Department of Atomic Energy released a brief press statement confirming the government approval of India participation in this international mega science project, allocating ₹1,250 crore for the cause. The approval follows a cooperation agreement signed nearly two years ago between the SKA Observatory and the National Centre for Radio Astronomy, Pune, representing the Department of Atomic Energy.

Indian radio astronomers, led by scientists from the National Centre for Radio Astronomy and Raman Research Institute, have been integral to the SKA project since its early planning stages. Renowned astronomer Govind Swarup, the first director of the National Centre for Radio Astronomy, played a pioneering role in proposing the concept of a SKA-type observatory back in the early 1990s.

India primary contribution to the mega-project will center around developing the software required to operate the telescopes at the two different sites and linking them with the headquarters at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in the UK. The software will serve as the neural system of the telescopes, issuing commands necessary for astronomical observations. Indian software engineers will actively participate in managing the overall development of SKA software, offering significant contributions to and benefiting the software industry in India.

Approximately 20 Indian institutes are actively involved in the Indian SKA network, contributing to various aspects of the program. The telescopes, named SKA-Mid and SKA-Low, will cover two different frequency ranges and are being constructed in South Africa and Western Australia, respectively. With construction already underway at both sites, these arrays will span large distances, collectively representing a massive field of antennas with a total signal collecting area of one square kilometer, aptly named the Square Kilometre Array.