Thirty Meter Telescope - Partnership

Partnership

The TMT Observatory Corporation is a partnership between:

  • Association of Canadian Universities for Research in Astronomy (ACURA)
  • California Institute of Technology (Caltech)
  • University of California (UC)
  • Department of Science and Technology of India
  • National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • National Astronomical Observatory of Japan

The current US$80 million, five-year design and development program is planned for completion in 2012. Construction is expected to commence immediately thereafter, leading to initial science operations in 2018. The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has committed US$200 million for construction. Caltech and University of California have committed an additional US$50 million each. TMT is actively seeking additional major partners for the construction and operations phase.

  • In 2008, the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) joined TMT as a Collaborating Institution.
  • In 2009, the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC) joined TMT as an Observer.
  • In 2010, a consortium of Indian Astronomy Research Institutes (IIA, IUCAA and ARIES) joined TMT project as an observer. The observer status is the first step in becoming a full partner in TMT and participating in the engineering development and scientific use of the observatory (Subject to approval of funding from Indian Government).
  • In 2012, India and China became partners, with representatives on the TMT board. China and India will pay a share of the telescope construction costs, expected to top $1 billion.

Japan, which has its own large telescope at Mauna Kea, the 8.3-metre Subaru, is also a partner.

TMT has received design and development funding from the following public and private organizations:

  • Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
  • Canada Foundation for Innovation
  • Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation
  • National Research Council of Canada
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
  • British Columbia Knowledge Development Fund
  • Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA)
  • National Science Foundation (NSF)
  • Lockheed Martin

Read more about this topic:  Thirty Meter Telescope

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