EOSOL and COMPOXI pass the DDR of the SKA project
Last March, the Detailed Design Review (DDR) of the SKA-Mid telescope’s sub-reflector construction project was completed. This is a very important milestone, as the DDR serves to validate the model and move on to the next phase of the construction process. Both EOSOL (a company specializing in engineering services) and COMPOXI (specializing in the design and production of composite materials) have worked hard these past months in close collaboration with the SKA Observatory (SKAO) to ensure a model that meets the SKAO’s demanding requirements.
3D model of the subreflector of the SKA-Mid radio telescope in South Africa.
This is an important milestone since the subreflector is one of the critical parts of the antenna, serving to concentrate the signals collected by the main reflector. The subreflector is a 4.5 m structure made of composite material and metallized to achieve the electromagnetic and mechanical properties required for the project. Each subreflector consists of six main panels and three extensions, and in total, each subreflector has more than 100 parts that must be precisely manufactured and assembled.
“Achieving this milestone (DDR) is another step on our path to contributing to this project. These past few months have been extremely enriching on both a technical and human level, both in terms of the support provided by the SKAO team and the contributions from COMPOXI and EOSOL, each in their respective fields of expertise. We’re eager to begin the construction phase and see how all the pieces of this great machine come together, making this major technical challenge a reality,” says Alex Blasco, Head of Engineering at COMPOXI.
After the DDR, the project enters a new dimension. Having passed the design and planning phase, the project now enters the construction phase.
As part of this major scientific engineering project, EOSOL and COMPOXI are responsible for building 45 subreflectors for the SKA Observatory’s mid-frequency telescope—known as SKA-Mid—currently under construction in South Africa.
The SKA Observatory is considered one of the largest scientific engineering projects of the 21st century. Countries from all five continents are collaborating to build the two largest radio telescope arrays on Earth. In Australia, the low-frequency array, known as SKA-Low, will have 131,072 antennas spread over 74 km. In South Africa, SKA-Mid will have 197 parabolic antennas (incorporating the 64 from the MeerKAT radio telescope) spread over 150 km. Due to the size and number of antennas, SKA will represent a significant leap in resolution, sensitivity, and observation speed compared to other radio telescopes, allowing us to see more parts of the Universe and in greater detail than ever before. The array’s design and processing capacity will also allow radio astronomers around the world to study different parts of the cosmos simultaneously.
The Universe awaits!
This contract is partially funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, managed by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
About EOSOL Gruoup
The EOSOL Group is a global engineering, monitoring and technical support services company with experience in more than 40 countries around the world. The aerospace division develops antennas and RF components for the space, defence and scientific sectors. We provide our customers with high-performance antenna solutions. The division covers all tasks related to the study and implementation of antennas and RF components (feasibility study, detailed design, prototyping, qualification and production).
About Compoxi
Compoxi is a leading company in the design and production of composite structures. Compoxi combines advanced design, analysis, qualification and prototyping capabilities with industrial means that enable it to carry out serial production. Compoxi’s portfolio encompasses the design and production of primary structures for satellites and launchers for the space sector, structural components for aeroplanes, helicopters and UAVs for the aeronautical sector and critical elements for scientific and industrial structures.
For more information, please visit our website
SKAO
The SKAO, formally known as the SKA Observatory, is an intergovernmental organisation composed of member states from five continents and headquartered in the UK. Its mission is to build and operate cutting-edge radio telescopes to transform our understanding of the Universe, and deliver benefits to society through global collaboration and innovation. Its two telescopes, each composed of hundreds of dishes and thousands of antennas, are being constructed in South Africa and Australia and will be the two most advanced radio telescopes on Earth. A later expansion is envisioned in both countries and other African partner countries.
Together with other state-of-the-art research facilities, the SKAO’s telescopes will explore the unknown frontiers of science and deepen our understanding of key processes, including the formation and evolution of galaxies, fundamental physics in extreme environments and the origins of life. Through the development of innovative technologies and its contribution to addressing societal challenges, the SKAO will play its part to address the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and deliver significant benefits across its membership and beyond.
The SKAO recognises and acknowledges the Indigenous peoples and cultures that have traditionally lived on the lands on which the SKAO facilities are located.