The GMT site, enclosure, and facilities: 2024 design and construction update

Bruce Bigelow; Gustavo Arriagada; Christopher Madden; Francisco Meza; Hector Swett; Eduardo Villar; Miroslav Vulinovic

doi:10.1117/12.3019311

11 September 2024 The GMT site, enclosure, and facilities: 2024 design and construction update

Bruce Bigelow, Gustavo Arriagada, Christopher Madden, Francisco Meza, Hector Swett, Eduardo Villar, Miroslav Vulinovic

Proceedings Volume 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X; 1309402 (2024) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019311
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2024, Yokohama, Japan

Abstract

The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), one of three extremely large telescopes (ELTs) in development, will be located on the summit of Cerro Las Campanas, a peak within the property of the Las Campanas Observatory (LCO) in Chile. The GMT employs seven 8.4m monolithic mirrors as segments to form a single optical surface with an equivalent diameter of 25.4 meters. Developing a new observatory for cutting-edge science operations and a 50-year lifespan poses a variety of design and construction challenges. This paper reports on progress since 2020, including the latest developments for the GMT site master plan, and work completed for the site infrastructure, telescope enclosure, and support facilities. In late 2021, GMTO selected IDOM (Bilbao, Spain) to mature the enclosure from its preliminary reference design through to final design and documents (drawings and specification) for construction. Over the last two years, the designs for enclosure structures, mechanisms, pier seismic isolation system, and related control systems have been refined as they passed through a 60% critical design review in May 2023, and the final design review (FDR) in May 2024. Construction work at the GMTO site started in 2015, and over the past four years has seen completion of the underground utility distribution systems and preparations for start of enclosure construction.

Conference Presentation

(2024) Published by SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Citation Download Citation

Bruce Bigelow, Gustavo Arriagada, Christopher Madden, Francisco Meza, Hector Swett, Eduardo Villar, and Miroslav Vulinovic "The GMT site, enclosure, and facilities: 2024 design and construction update", Proc. SPIE 13094, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes X, 1309402 (11 September 2024); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.3019311

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