Elemaster continues to play a pivotal role in the ongoing Radiotelescope project, making significant progress while strengthening global partnerships. Recently, a key mission to Australia provided valuable insights into the current status of the project, highlighting essential facilities and deepening professional connections.
A visit to the Integrated Test Facility (ITF) allowed the team to see firsthand how Elemaster’s SPS cabinets, TPM subracks and FEM undergo rigorous testing before being deployed in the field. With its fully equipped climate testing lab and a chamber for radio frequency emission measurements, ITF ensures that the highest quality standards are met.
At the Murchinson telescope site (Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, “Sharing stars and sky” in the Aboriginal language), Elemaster marked an important milestone with the completion of AA0.5, made by the union of RPF (remote processing facility) and tCPF (temporary Central Processing Facility). This first stage of installation involved fully populated cabinets and connected antennas, setting the stage for further advancements. The commissioning phase is ongoing, with initial results helping pave the way for continued work for the construction of the heart of the telescope (CPF, central processing facility), an area that will house more than 70,000 antennas.
In addition, thanks to SKALOW Deputy Director George Simpson, Elemaster had the opportunity to visit ASKAP (Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder), a radio telescope that has been observing the sky for more than a decade and is a precursor to SKA. At the same radio telescope, the first versions of the low-frequency arrays (AAVS1, AAVS2 and AAVS3) were made with the essential contribution of INAF, with whose representative Jader Monari, Head of the INAF radio telescope in Medicina, this trip was shared.
The trip then ended with a visit to the SKAO Headquarters in Perth and laboratories of AVI, the company that is building the Smartboxes, the units that power and contain the Front End Modules -another essential element for the radio telescope- produced by Elemaster Group. These units transduce the radio signal picked up by the antennas into an optical signal transmitted in analogue mode up to a distance of 6 km.
Reflecting on the trip, Marco Arrigoni, Eletech system engineer -R&D Group division- and technical leader for SKAO project, shared:
“The mission not only allowed us to strengthen professional relationships with the worldwide SKAO team, but also offered a deeper understanding of the importance of respecting local culture and the environment. These values resonate deeply with Elemaster’s approach, as we understand the importance of operating responsibly in such a fragile and significant place.”
Furthermore, at the SKAO Headquarters in Perth, at the ARRC building, CISRO, Elemaster had the opportunity to engage with key stakeholders from SKAO and Aurecom, the company managing the infrastructure and facilities of SKA-LOW, discussing plans for the next steps in the radiotelescopio project’s expansion. Elemaster’s collaboration with these teams continues to highlight its commitment to technological innovation and sustainability.
Elemaster’s involvement in this landmark project not only showcases its technical expertise but also underlines its dedication to environmental responsibility and cultural respect.
Stay tuned for more updates as Elemaster advances its role in shaping the future of astronomy and technology.
