[ASA] Major milestone for SKA [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

[Luchetti, David]

Dear colleagues

Yesterday evening, the Australian Ambassador to Rome, Dr Greg French signed an international treaty (the SKA Observatory Convention) which formally commits member countries to work together to provide the necessary funding and resources to make the SKA a reality.

The Convention, which has initially been signed by seven countries, will establish the Square Kilometre Array Observatory which will make the final decisions on the SKA's design and will coordinate the many contracts needed to build and operate the telescope and associated infrastructure. Other countries are expected to join in signing the treaty in the coming year.

This is a milestone event, many years in the making. It paves the way towards SKA construction, with contracts expected to start being awarded from late 2020 to companies and providers in the SKA's member countries.

The Convention will still need to be ratified by the signatory countries, which is expected to occur over the rest of the year. Once five countries have ratified, including the three host countries, the SKA Observatory will officially come into being.

Along with recent progress on the telescope design, this significant milestone moves us ever closer to construction readiness.

Regards,

David Luchetti
Australian SKA Project Director
Australian Square Kilometre Array Office
__________________________________________
Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
Level 9, 10 Binara Street, Canberra City ACT 2601
GPO Box 2013, Canberra ACT 2601
Ph: +61-2-6213 6068  Mob: +61 411 021 135
Email:  david.luchetti at industry.gov.au<mailto:david.luchetti at industry.gov.au>
Internet: www.ska.gov.au<http://www.ska.gov.au/>
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[cid:image001.png at 01D36398.6668F650]The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science acknowledges the traditional owners of the country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to them and their cultures and to the elders past, present and future.


UNCLASSIFIED
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