The Square Kilometre Array: A Science Mega-Project in the Making, 1990-2012 (Historical & Cultural Astronomy)

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) is a grand vision project to build the most sensitive radio telescope in the world. This open access book tells the story of its development – a story of transformational science, innovative engineering, and global collaboration. Its journey has been long and complex, reflecting the many issues faced in creating an affordable design, choosing a site, and developing a viable global organisation starting from a simple working group of far-sighted and persistent astronomers in 1993.

The book begins with the emergence of the SKA concept and the first working group. It traces the development of global scientific and engineering collaborations and ever more comprehensive governance structures for the SKA, the involvement and roles of funding agencies and governments, and the long, political site selection process. This occurred alongside efforts to overcome technical barriers and the difficult process of selecting technology. It follows these themes up to the point in 2012 when the project had just transitioned from a collaboration to a legal entity and the dual site decision was made – a pivotal moment when it was clear the SKA arrays would be built.

The book is based on the authors’ personal experience at the leading edge of the project over many years, as well as access to hitherto unpublished material from project archives, interviews, and presentations from many of the key players at a specially convened conference. It has a Foreword written by John Womersley, former Chair of the Agencies SKA Group and SKA Organisation Board. The book is intended for an audience ranging from funding agencies and governments involved in major research infrastructures, to historians of science and professional researchers studying mega-projects, to the astronomy and physics communities in general and interested lay readers.

Richard Schilizzi – First International SKA Director, 2003-2011; at-large member of the International SKA Steering Committee, 1999-2002; Foundation Director of the Joint Institute for VLBI in Europe, 1993-2002. Current position: Emeritus Professor of Astrophysics, University of Manchester

Ronald Ekers – One of the founding fathers of the SKA, and first chair of the International SKA Steering Committee (ISSC), 1999-2002; member ISSC, 1999-2007; Foundation Director of the CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility, 1988-2003; first VLA Director, 1980-1988. Fellow of the Royal Society, the Australian Academy of Sciences, and the US National Academy of Science. Current position: CSIRO Fellow and Adjunct Professor at Curtin University in Australia.

Peter Dewdney – SKA Architect, 2012-present; SKA Project Engineer, 2008-2012; member of the International SKA Steering Committee, 1999-2007, one of the early proponents of the SKA.

Philip Crosby –Industry Participation Manager, SKA Program Development Office, 2009-2011; Business Strategy and Major Project Specialist, CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, 2006-2008 & 2012-2017; preceded by many years of experience in industry. Current position: Honorary Fellow, CSIRO and Major Projects Consultant.