The largest radio telescope in the world has begun construction after a groundbreaking ceremony 800 kilometers north of Perth at a site in Wajarri Yamaji Country.

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Observatory, a project of 16 nations, will combine sister telescope sites in South Africa and Australia to become the world's largest science facility.

The SKA Observatory has awarded contracts worth more than $200 million to the Australian company Ventia to start on-site infrastructure projects including power and fiber networks and the construction of buildings for data processing equipment, according to Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic.
 

“Australia’s membership of the SKA Observatory is not only good for industry today but will inspire generations of Australians to dream big and follow a career in STEM,” said Minister Husic.

“It will also provide an incredible platform for the nation to show our incredible scientific knowledge and research on the world stage.”

At the ceremony, Minister Husic presided and praised the project as a remarkable achievement in astronomy, scientific infrastructure, and international cooperation.

The origins of life, the creation of the cosmos, and other fundamental scientific problems will all be addressed by astronomers using this ground-breaking technology, he added.

Additionally, we anticipate that over the course of its first 30 years, the SKA will provide an estimated $1.8 billion in foreign revenue flows to Australia and generate 350 to 350 medium-term jobs.

The SKA project's worldwide impact was welcomed, according to Western Australia's Deputy Premier and Minister for Science, Roger Cook MLA. Cook expressed his pride in supporting the SKA initiative.

The largest and most effective low-frequency radio telescope in the world will be SKA-Low, according to Deputy Premier Cook. Data gathered in Western Australia will further humanity's technological advancements and deepen our understanding of the universe.

The SKA project will provide jobs for engineers, scientists, and technicians worldwide, including in Western Australia, in addition to the scientific advantages.

To guarantee that the advantages of this historic project are realized both domestically and internationally, the Western Australian Government has committed to working cooperatively with the Australian Government, CSIRO, SKAO, and the Wajarri Yamaji people.
 

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