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3 clusters · 12 sources · 11 days · First seen · Last updated

TMT project rejects La Palma site for Hawaii

Overview

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) project has faced significant setbacks regarding its potential installation in La Palma. Initially, construction activities at the Roque de los Muchachos Observatory were halted because partners of the TMT International Observatory (TIO) failed to reach a consensus on a financial proposal from the Spanish government.

Spain had offered a funding package of up to 1 billion euros, involving the European Investment Bank and the Official Credit Institute, to support the observatory. Despite the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities structuring this through the Center for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI), the international consortium ultimately rejected La Palma as a site.

Robert Kirshner, executive director of the TMT International Observatory, informed Spanish officials that the consortium could not accept the Spanish proposal despite the scientific excellence of the Canary Islands facilities. While Kirshner described the Spanish offer as ‘innovative and solid,’ he attributed the rejection to the complexity of financing a large-scale scientific project across multiple nations over a projected 50-year lifespan. The partners—comprising Japan, India, the United States, and Canada—have indicated they will return to their original preferred location in Maunakea, Hawaii.

Following the decision, the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) reaffirmed its commitment to scientific development at the observatory, intending to continue promoting other international infrastructures such as the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) and the European Solar Telescope (EST).

Entities

Roque de los Muchachos Observatory · Thirty Meter Telescope · La Palma · Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias · Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Thirty Meter Telescope project rejects La Palma location

    The Thirty Meter Telescope project has rejected a funding proposal to locate in La Palma, Spain, citing the complexity of multi-country financing. Partners will instead pursue the original site in Hawaii.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 5 sources
    Thirty Meter Telescope construction halted in La Palma

    Construction of the Thirty Meter Telescope in La Palma is stalled after international partners rejected a Spanish financial proposal of up to 1 billion euros.

  3. [TECHNOLOGY] 9 sources
    La Palma rejected as site for Thirty Meter Telescope

    The Thirty Meter Telescope consortium has rejected La Palma as a site, choosing Hawaii instead, despite a 1,000 million euro financial offer from the Spanish government.

Sources

13tv.es · atlanticohoy.com · cienciakanija.com · diariodeavisos.com · diariodeavisos.elespanol.com · elapuron.com · elburgado.com · ep01.epimg.net · lancelotdigital.com · meneame.net · mundolapalma.es · web.eldia.es

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history