Australia on Monday began construction of an extensive antenna network in a sparsely populated area, part of which, according to designers, will eventually become one of the most powerful radio telescopes in the world.
When everything is ready, the antennas in Australia and the dish network in South Africa will form a massive instrument whose purpose is to unravel the mysteries of the formation of stars, galaxies and extraterrestrial life.
The idea of the telescope first arose in the early 1990s, but the project suffered from delays, funding problems and diplomatic machinations.
According to the Director General, the telescope «will become one of the greatest scientific achievements of mankind.»