Constructing Telescopes in Antarctica John W.V. Storey Image: Tony Travouillon

Getting the components there, building the telescope, and operating it. Image: John Storey

Davis Mawson Casey Hobart Dome C is a French/Italian station that will be open year-round from 2005 Dome C Image: Australian Antarctic Division

Logistic support of Dome C is via Hobart. Image: John Storey

L’Astrolabe brings heavy items from Hobart to Dumont d’Urville in 6 days... Image: John Storey

...thence by tractor-traverse to Dome C. Image: Patrik Kaufmann

The tractor-traverse takes 11 days to get from the coast to Dome C. Three traverses/year (currently) Each traverse delivers ~150 tonnes Fuel consumption 600 litres/tonne Twelve-metre sleds – essentially no size or weight restrictions

Image: Australian Antarctic Division From 2005, the Australian Antarctic Division air-link will be in place. Dome C 3.9 hrs

The AASTINO was assembled by 3 people in 10 hours, at -30C.

Image: Patrik Kaufmann Let’s assume that things take twice at long at Dome C...

Image: Geanpiero Venturi...because some people just can’t resist goofing off.

Image: Karim Agabi

Image: Patrik Kaufmann

Image: John Storey

Image: EOST EOST estimate for construction times (temperate site) for 2-metre telescope. Mech Eng3 – 4 weeks Mech Tech2 – 3 weeks Elec Eng2 weeks Optical Eng1 week SW Eng2 week Total (worst case): 14 person-weeks 6 weeks elapsed time 5 personnel

Image: EOST Let’s double these times (to account for the goofing off). Total (worst case): 28 person-weeks 12 weeks elapsed time 5 personnel This represents less than the combined UNSW and University of Nice deployment at Dome C for a single summer.

Construction costs Image: John Storey

What did it cost us to build the AASTINO at Dome C, and what would it have cost if we’d done it at Siding Spring?

Dome C (actual costs)$ Road transport, Sydney – Hobart, 4 tonnes (includes separate “dangerous goods” shipping)5185 Return airfare Sydney – Hobart, three $5001,860 Accommodation in Hobart, 2 nights x 3 people720 Hire of bulldozer, 8 hrs 0 Hire of crane, 2 x 1/2 day0 Connection to power grid0 Hire of three 2-way radios, 4 weeks 0 Hire of container during construction0 Jet A1 fuel; 2,300 litres Total Dome C$7,765 Siding Spring (estimated costs based on quotes)$ Road transport, Sydney – SSO, 4 tonnes2,000 Hire of car, 4 $300/week1,200 Accommodation at Lodge, 28 nights x 3 $ ,593 Hire of bulldozer, 8 $150/hr1,200 Hire of crane, 2 x 1/2 $900 per 1/2 day1,800 Connection to power grid (including pole)950 Hire of three 2-way radios, 4 weeks 300 Hire of container during construction2,500 Jet A1 fuel; 2,300 litres2, Total Siding Spring$20,843

PILOT: Pathfinder for an International Large Optical Telescope

Image: Patrik Kaufmann For PILOT (15 tonnes gross weight), let’s ignore the possible savings, take the worst case and double it, and assume we have to pay for all the transport...

We’ll pay for our share of the icebreaker charter, and our share of its operating costs... Image: John Storey

...we’ll pay for our share of the tractor-traverse to Dome C. Image: Patrik Kaufmann

Then that all comes to % of an Astrolabe voyage, plus 10% of a traverse... = A$54k....plus GST

Of course, there are also the violent storms that dump metres of snow in just a few hours......but fortunately they only occur on Mauna Kea. (Image courtesy Keck Observatory)