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Watch and Listen as LSST's "First Stone" is Unveiled

The LSST First Stone is unveiled by (L-R) US Ambassador to Chile Michael A. Hammer, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, NSF Director France Cordova, and LSST Director Steven Kahn.

April 14, 2015 - LSST marks a major milestone today, with the traditional First Stone (Primera Piedra) ceremony taking place this afternoon on Cerro Pachón, Chile.  While site leveling has already begun, laying of the first stone is a Chilean tradition marking the construction start for a new astronomical observatory. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, U.S. Ambassador to Chile Michael A. Hammer, NSF Director France Córdova, and Charles Simonyi are among the dignitaries present to mark this start of summit construction.

Steve Kahn
Speech Transcript
Video: 720 | 480		France Còrdova
Speech Transcript
Video: 720 | 480		Michael Hammer
Speech Transcript
Video: 720 | 480		Michelle Bachelet
Speech Transcript
Video: 720 | 480

Read more:  NSF Press Release 15-036

News Coverage:

El Dia (La Serena): Al 2020 Chile Terdra 70% infraestructure astronomica mundial afirma Bachelet

AZ Daily Star: First Stone Laid for Giant Survey Telescope

Physics.org: LSST Lays First Stone

Symmetry Magazine: LSST Construction Begins

InfoZine: LSST Construction Begins in Chile

Image Credit: 
Gentileza Presidencia

LSST First Stone Image Gallery

Financial support for Rubin Observatory comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Cooperative Support Agreement No. 1202910, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515, and private funding raised by the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded Rubin Observatory Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA).  The DOE-funded effort to build the Rubin Observatory LSST Camera (LSSTCam) is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
NSF and DOE will continue to support Rubin Observatory in its Operations phase. They will also provide support for scientific research with LSST data.   




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