• Citizen Scientists Published (Space Warps Project), Symmetry, September 21, 2015

(SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory)

The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope's 'Eye' Will be Built at SLAC

Menlo Park, Calif. — The Department of Energy has approved the start of construction for a 3.2-gigapixel digital camera – the world’s largest – at the heart of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST).  Assembled at the DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the camera will be the eye of LSST, revealing unprecedented details of the universe and helping unravel some of its greatest mysteries.

See the SLAC Press Release.

As the Chilean winter snow melts, the LSST facility on Cerro Pachón begins to emerge above the ground level - rebar posts extend from the concrete footings of the support columns of the observatory building. The summit construction is progressing to be ready for the initial integration with the dome in January 2017 and be fully completed by January 2018. The facility will provide 3,000 square meters of maintenance and support space in a footprint that extends from 17 meters below the summit platform to 38 meters above the summit to the top of the dome. Over 5,000 cubic meters of concrete have been poured to establish the foundation of the facility that will provide space for the telescope, mirror coating plant, camera clean room, control room and required operational space.

The LSST achieved a significant milestone August 4-6, 2015, with the Camera passing a critical independent review that evaluated the project's readiness for seeking approval of Critical Decision (CD)-3, Approve Start of Construction. The review committee found the LSST Camera to meet all requirements and recommended immediate CD-3 approval. Specifically the committee found the project team to be "expert and very capable. The team is well managed and can effectively deliver on the construction phase tasks, manage the procurements, interfaces, and risks. The management structure and resources are in place to successfully deliver the project within the cost and schedule." The LSST camera final design (including all interfaces) was found to be capable of achieving the previously approved science objectives and sufficient to begin construction. Led by Camera Project Manager Nadine Kurita at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Camera Deputy Project Manager Vincent Riot at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the entire Camera team and LSST Project should be congratulated for this outstanding effort and outcome!