More than 20 MeerKAT antennas have been
installed on the SKA SA Losberg site outside
Carnarvon in the Northern Cape.
SOUTH
SOUTH
AFRICA’S
AFRICA’S
MeerKAT
MeerKAT
RADIO
RADIO
TELESCOPE
TELESCOPE
MARCH 2014
TECHNICAL FACT SHEET
TheSouth
SouthAfrican
AfricanMeerKAT
MeerKATradio
radiotelescope,
telescope,currently
currentlybeing
being
The
builtsome
some90
90km
kmfrom
north-west
of the
small
Northern
Cape
built
Carnarvon
in the
Northern
Cape,
is atown
of Carnarvon,
is Square
a precursor
to theArray
Square
Kilometre
Array
precursor
to the
Kilometre
(SKA)
telescope
and will
(SKA)
telescope
be integrated
into the mid-frequency
be
integrated
intoand
thewill
mid-frequency
component
of SKA Phase
of SKAis
Phase
1. The SKA Project
is an
1.component
The SKA Project
an international
enterprise
tointernational
build the
enterprise
to build
the largest
most sensitive
radioand
telescope
largest
and most
sensitive
radioand
telescope
in the world,
will be
in the world,
andand
willAustralia.
be located in Africa and Australia.
located
in Africa
TIMELINE FOR MeerKAT CONSTRUCTION
March 2014:
First antenna installed
March
2014: First
First
antenna
Mid 2014:
antenna
qualifiinstalled
ed and critical design review
June 2016: completed
16 antenna array ready
End 2014:
End 2017: End 2015:
End 2016:
Mid 2017:
Four MeerKAT receptors will be fully assembled,
integrated
and verifi
ed ready
64 antenna
array
Array
of 16
antennas commissioned and ready to
to do
science
do science
All 64 antenna positioners will be in place.
Full array ready to do science.
LOCAL
IN THE
WHO ISPARTICIPATION
MANUFACTURING
CONSTRUCTION
OF MeerKAT
THE MeerKAT ANTENNAS?
Stratosat Datacom (Pty) Ltd, the primary industry partner on the
manufacturing of the MeerKAT antennas, leads a technology
consortium including international partners General Dynamics
Satcom (GDSatcom, USA) and Vertex Antennentechnik (Germany).
At least 75% of the components making up the MeerKAT dish will be
Stratosat Datacom
(Pty)
Ltd, the
contractor
for the design,Key
manufacturing
manufactured
in South
Africa
by several
sub-contractors.
local
and acceptance
the
MeerKAT
Antenna
Positioner,
leads
a technology
suppliers
includeofEffi
cient
Engineering
(pedestals
and
yokes);
Titanus
consortium
includingbearings)
international
General Dynamics
Slew
Rings (azimuth
and partners
Tricom Structures
(back-upSatcom
(GDSatcom,
and
Antennentechnik
structure),
allUSA)
based
in Vertex
Gauteng.
In some cases(Germany).
foreign companies
will manufacture components for the first antenna – such as the first
At of
least
the contract
will be
spentand
in South
resulting
set
refl75%
ectorofpanels,
first value
receiver
indexer
firstAfrica
sub-refl
ector in most
thethe
MeerKAT
antenna
components
being manufactured
in South
Africa.
–of
but
rest will
be made
locally. Suppliers
from abroad
include
the National Research Council of Canada, through the Herzberg,
Key local suppliers
include
Engineering
(pedestals
Programs
in Astronomy
andEfficient
Astrophysics
(low-noise
amplifiand
ers yokes);
and
Titanus Slew Rings (azimuth bearing), Tricom Structures and Namaqua
first sub-reflector); Oxford Cryogenics in the UK (cryogenic coldEngineering (back-up structure), Westarcor Engineering and General
heads) and Vertex Antennentechnik (control systems).
Profiling (receiver indexer); and Stratosat (reflectors).
Due to schedule pressure some of the components (such as the reflector
panels, sub-reflector and receiver indexer) for the first two antennas
were manufactured internationally. Since then, this function has been
successfully transferred to local suppliers.
TheMeerKAT
MeerKATwill
willbecome
becomepart
partofofSKA
SKAphase
phase1.1.
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andyoke
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totalstructure
structureisis
over
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m,and
andititweighs
weighs4242tons.
tons.
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controlsystem.
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togetherwith
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receiverindexer,
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berotated
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housesthe
theazimuth
azimuthwrap,
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andprevents
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guides
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structure
them
allowsan
anobservation
observationelevation
elevationrange
rangefrom
from1515toto8888degrees,
degrees,
allows
andan
anazimuth
azimuthrange
rangefrom
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-185degrees
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+275degrees,
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where
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MeerKAT TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Number
of antennas
64
MeerKAT
MeerKAT
TECHNICAL
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
Confi
guration
Offset Gregorian
MeerKAT
MeerKAT
MeerKAT
TECHNICAL
TECHNICAL
TECHNICAL
MeerKAT
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
SPECIFICATIONS
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Number
Number
ofof
antennas
antennas
6464
Diameter
of
main
reflector
(dish)
13.5
Number
Number
Number
of
of
ofantennas
antennas
antennas
Number
of antennas
64
64
64 mOffset
64
Confi
Confi
guration
guration
Offset
Gregorian
Gregorian
Diameter
of sub-refl
ector
3.8
m Gregorian
Confi
Confi
Confi
guration
guration
guration
Confi
guration
Offset
Offset
Offset
Gregorian
Gregorian
Offset Gregorian
Diameter
Diameter
ofof
main
main
refl
refl
ector
ector
(dish)
(dish)
13.5
13.5
mm
Surface
accuracy
andector
sub-refl
ector
combined)
0.6
mm
RMS
Diameter
Diameter
Diameter
of
ofofmain
main
main
refl
refl
refl
ector
Diameter
ector
ector
(dish)
(dish)
(dish)
of main
refl
ector (dish)
13.5
13.5
13.5
m
mm
13.5square)
m
Diameter
Diameter
of(main
of
sub-refl
sub-refl
ector
3.8
3.8
mm(root mean
Pointing
accuracy
5”
under
optimal
conditions;
25”square)
under
normal conditions
Diameter
Diameter
Diameter
of
ofofsub-refl
sub-refl
sub-refl
ector
ector
Diameter
ector
ofand
sub-refl
ector
3.8
3.8
3.8
m
mm0.60.6
3.8
mmean
Surface
Surface
accuracy
accuracy
(main
(main
and
sub-refl
sub-refl
ector
ector
combined)
combined)
mm
mm
RMS
RMS
(root
(root
mean
square)
Wind
optimal
(mean/gust)
10/15
km/h
Surface
Surface
Surface
accuracy
accuracy
accuracy
(main
(main
(main
Surface
and
and
andsub-refl
sub-refl
sub-refl
accuracy
ector
ector
ector
(main
combined)
combined)
combined)
and sub-reflector
0.6
0.6
0.6mm
mm
mm
combined)
RMS
RMS
(root
(root
(root
mean
mean
mean
0.6conditions;
square)
mm
square)
square)
RMS (root
mean
square)
Pointing
Pointing
accuracy
accuracy
5”RMS
5”
under
under
optimal
optimal
conditions;
25”
25”
under
under
normal
normal
conditions
conditions
Wind
operating
(mean/gust)
35/48
km/h
Pointing
Pointing
Pointing
accuracy
accuracy
accuracy
Pointing
accuracy
5”
5”
5”under
under
under
optimal
optimal
optimal
conditions;
conditions;
conditions;
5” under
25”
25”
25”
optimal
under
under
underconditions;
normal
normal
normalconditions
conditions
conditions
25” under normal
Wind
Wind
optimal
optimal
(mean/gust)
(mean/gust)
10/15
10/15
km/h
km/h
Wind
(gust)
68.4
km/h
Wind
Windstow
optimal
optimal
optimal
(mean/gust)
(mean/gust)
(mean/gust)
Wind
optimal (mean/gust)
10/15
10/15
10/15
km/h
km/h
km/h
Wind
Wind
operating
operating
(mean/gust)
(mean/gust)
35/48
35/48
km/h
km/h 10/15 km/h
Wind
3stow
sec
gust
144
km/h
Wind
Windsurvival
operating
operating
operating
(mean/gust)
(mean/gust)
(mean/gust)
Wind operating (mean/gust)
35/48
35/48
35/48
km/h
km/h
km/h
Wind
Wind
stow
(gust)
(gust)
68.4
68.4
km/h
km/h 35/48 km/h
Azimuth
speed/range
2
deg/s
(-185
to +275 deg)
Wind
Wind
Windstow
stow
stow
(gust)
(gust)
(gust)
stow
68.4
68.4
68.4
km/h
km/h
km/h
68.4 km/h
Wind
Wind
survival
survival
3 Wind
sec
3 sec
gust
gust(gust)
144
144
km/h
km/h
Elevation
speed/range
1
deg/s
to 88
deg)to144
Wind
Wind
Windsurvival
survival
survival
333speed/range
sec
sec
sec
gust
gust
gust
Wind survival 3 sec gust
144
144
144
km/h
km/h
km/h
km/h
Azimuth
Azimuth
speed/range
2(15
deg/s
2 deg/s
(-185
(-185
to
+275
+275
deg)
deg)
Lowest
elevation
15
deg
Azimuth
Azimuth
Azimuth
speed/range
speed/range
speed/range
Azimuth speed/range
222deg/s
deg/s
deg/s
(-185
to
to
to+275
+275
+275
deg)
2deg)
deg)
deg/s
Elevation
Elevation
speed/range
speed/range
1(-185
deg/s
1(-185
deg/s
(15
(15
toto
88
88
deg)
deg)(-185 to +275 deg)
Continuum
imaging
dynamic
range
at 1.4 GHz
60
dB
Elevation
Elevation
Elevation
speed/range
speed/range
speed/range
Elevation
speed/range
1
11deg/s
deg/s
deg/s
(15
(15
(15
to
toto88
88
88deg)
deg)
deg)1 deg/s (15 to 88 deg)
Lowest
Lowest
elevation
elevation
15
15
deg
deg
Line-to-line
dynamic
range
atdynamic
1.4 GHz
40
Lowest
Lowest
Lowest
elevation
elevation
elevation
Lowest
elevation
15
15
15dB
deg
deg
deg
15 deg
Continuum
Continuum
imaging
imaging
dynamic
range
range
atat
1.41.4
GHz
GHz
6060
dBdB
Mosaicing
imaging
14
GHz
27
dB
Continuum
Continuum
Continuum
imaging
imaging
imaging
dynamic
dynamic
Continuum
dynamic
range
range
range
imaging
at
at1.4
1.4
1.4
GHz
dynamic
GHz
GHz
range at
60
60
60
1.4
dB
dB
GHz
60 dB
Line-to-line
Line-to-line
dynamic
range
atat
1.4
GHz
4040
dBdB
Linear
polarisation
cross
coupling
across
-3range
dB
beam
-30
dB
Line-to-line
Line-to-line
Line-to-line
dynamic
dynamic
dynamic
range
Line-to-line
range
range
at
atat1.4
1.4
1.4GHz
dynamic
GHz
GHz
at 1.4 GHz
40
40
40dB
dB
dB2727
40 dB
Mosaicing
Mosaicing
imaging
imaging
dynamic
dynamic
range
range
at
at
14
14
GHz
GHz
dBdB
2
/K-30
required
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Sensitivity
UHF-Band
(0.58cross
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GHz)
m
Mosaicing
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imaging
imaging
imaging
dynamic
dynamic
dynamic
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range
range
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imaging
at
atat14
14
14GHz
GHz
dynamic
GHz
at220
27
27
14
27dB
dB
GHz
dB-30
27 dB
Linear
Linear
polarisation
polarisation
coupling
coupling
across
across
-3range
-3
dBdB
beam
beam
dBdB (expect
2
2
2 2
Sensitivity
L-BandUHF-Band
(0.9
– 1.67
GHz)
220
m
/KdB
required
(300-30
m(expect
/K(expect
achievable)
Linear
Linear
Linear
polarisation
polarisation
polarisation
cross
cross
cross
Linear
coupling
coupling
coupling
polarisation
across
cross
-3
-3
-3
dB
dB
dB
coupling
beam
beam
beam across
-30
-30
-30dB
dB
-3
dB
beam
dB
/K/K
required
required
toto
achieve
achieve
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better)
Sensitivity
Sensitivity
UHF-Band
(0.58
(0.58
–across
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1.015
GHz)
GHz)
220
220
m
m
22 2
2
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required
Sensitivity
X-Band
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200
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required
required
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to
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achieve
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Sensitivity
Sensitivity
UHF-Band
UHF-Band
UHF-Band
(0.58
(0.58
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––1.015
1.015
1.015
GHz)
GHz)
GHz)
220
220
220m
mm
220(300
m
Sensitivity
Sensitivity
L-Band
L-Band
(0.9
–
1.67
–UHF-Band
1.67
GHz)
GHz) (0.58 – 1.015 GHz)
220
220
m
m
/K/K
required
required
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m
m
/K/K
achievable)
achievable)
22 214.5 GHz)
22 2 2
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Aperture
phase
effi
ciency
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L-Band
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1.67
GHz)
L-Band
220
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220m
mm
/K
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/K
required
required
required
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(300
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220
m
mm
m
/K
/K
/K
/K
achievable)
achievable)
achievable)
required (300 m2/K achievable)
/K/K
required
required
Sensitivity
Sensitivity
X-Band
X-Band
(81.67
(8
– GHz)
14.5
–GHz)
14.5
GHz)
GHz)(0.9 – 1.67 GHz) 0.91
200
200
m
m
22 2RMS
Surface
accuracy
0.6
mm
/K
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required
required
required
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X-Band
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X-Band
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–effi
14.5
14.5
14.5
GHz)
GHz)
GHz)
X-Band (8 – 14.5 GHz)
200
200
200
m
mm
200 m2/K required
Aperture
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phase
phase
effi
ciency
ciency
0.91
0.91
(at(at
14.5
14.5
GHz)
GHz)
Pointing
accuracy
5”
(optimal
conditions,
20 min);
25”GHz)
(normal conditions, 24 h)
Aperture
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phase
phase
phase
effi
effi
effi
ciency
ciency
ciency
Aperture phase efficiency
0.91
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0.91
(at
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14.5
14.5
14.5
GHz)
GHz)
GHz)
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Surface
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accuracy
accuracy
0.6
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mm
mm
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accuracy
accuracy
accuracy
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0.6
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0.6mm
mm
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accuracy
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5”RMS
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noise
contribution
contribution
<1K
<1K and sub)<15” RMS
Azimuth
2<1K
deg/s>99.5%
(-185
to
+275
deg)
Refl
Refl
Refl
ector
ector
ector
noise
noise
noise
contribution
contribution
contribution
Reflector
noise contribution
<1K
<1K
<1K
Refl
Refl
ector
ector
refl
refl
ecting
ecting
effi
effi
ciency
ciency
>99.5%
(main
(main
and
and
sub)
sub)
Elevation
1
deg/s2(main
(15
to and
88
deg)
Refl
Refl
Refl
ector
ector
ector
refl
refl
refl
ecting
ecting
ectingeffi
effi
effi
Refl
ciency
ciency
ciency
ector reflecting efficiency
>99.5%
>99.5%
>99.5%
(main
and
and
sub)
sub)
sub)
(main
Azimuth
Azimuth
deg/s
2(main
deg/s
(-185
(-185
to>99.5%
to
+275
+275
deg)
deg) and sub)
Indexer
4
1 to
min
switchover
Azimuth
Azimuth
Azimuth
Azimuth
222receivers,
deg/s
deg/s
deg/s
(-185
to
to+275
+275
+275
deg)
2deg)
deg)
deg/s
Elevation
Elevation
1(-185
deg/s
1(-185
deg/s
(15
(15
toto
88
88
deg)
deg)(-185 to +275 deg)
Elevation
111deg/s
to
Elevation
Elevation
Elevation
deg/s
deg/s
(15
toto88
88
88deg)
deg)
deg)
deg/s
(15 to 88 deg)
Indexer
Indexer
4(15
receivers,
4(15
receivers,
1 min
11min
switchover
switchover
Indexer
Indexer
Indexer
Indexer
444receivers,
receivers,
receivers,111min
min
minswitchover
switchover
switchover
4 receivers, 1 min switchover
peed/range
vation
imaging dynamic range at 1.4 GHz
e dynamic range at 1.4 GHz
imaging dynamic range at 14 GHz
risation cross coupling across -3 dB beam
UHF-Band (0.58 – 1.015 GHz)
L-Band (0.9 – 1.67 GHz)
X-Band (8 – 14.5 GHz)
ase efficiency
uracy
curacy
ter
oise contribution
eflecting efficiency
1 deg/s (15 to 88 deg)
15 deg
60 dB
40 dB
27 dB
-30 dB
220 m2/K required (expect to achieve better)
220 m2/K required (300 m2/K achievable)
200 m2/K required
0.91 (at 14.5 GHz)
0.6 mm RMS
5” (optimal conditions, 20 min); 25” (normal conditions, 24 h)
<15” RMS
<1K
>99.5% (main and sub)
2 deg/s (-185 to +275 deg)
1 deg/s (15 to 88 deg)
4 receivers, 1 min switchover
MeerKAT ANTENNA
TOTAL HEIGHT: 19.5 m; TOTAL STRUCTURE WEIGHT: 42 TONS
The antenna consists
consists of
of the main
mainreflector
reflector (effective
(effective diameter
13.5 m)
m) plus the sub-reflector
13.5
sub-reflector (diameter
(diameter3.8
3.8 m).
m).The
Themain
mainreflector
reflector
sub-reflector
is is
is made up
up of
of 40
40 panels,
panels,made
madeof
ofaluminium.
aluminium.The
The
sub-reflector
composite
structure.
a single piece
composite
structure.
Lightning conductors
around the reflectors
protect the structure
during lightning
strikes.
Steel support
framework
and
connecting
back-up
structure.
The L-Band receiver
and the UHF-Band
receiver are mounted
on the receiver
indexer. The indexer
can accommodate up
to four receivers.
The yoke,
yoke and
The
elevation
elevation
bearing/
bearing and drive
actuatorallow
allows
motors
thethe
refl
ectors to
reflectors
totilt
tiltup
up
and
and down.
down.
The receiver
indexer can rotate
each receiver to
the desired focal
position.
Theazimuth
azimuth bearing
The
bearing/actuator
and
azimuth drive
allows the
structure
motors
allow
the
structure
to arotate in
to rotate in
ahorizontal
horizontalplane.
plane.
The L-Band digitiser
and the UHF-Band
digitiser are mounted
on the indexer.
The pedestal
contains the drive
control system.
The pedestal is
anchored and
bolted to a concrete
foundation.
An underground network of fibre optic
cables links each receptor to the Karoo
Array Processor Building (KAPB) on site.
SKA South African Project Office
17 Baker Street, Rosebank,
Contact
us:
Meerkat Engineering Office
SKA Organisation: www.skatelescope.org
3rd Floor, the Park, Park Road,
More information, visuals and media
Johannesburg,
South Africa
Pinelands, South Africa
SKA
SA, 3rd Floor
The
Park,
Tel: +27
(0) Park
11 442Street,
2434 Pinelands, 7405 Tel: +27 (0) 21 506 7300
Tel: +27 (0) 21 506-7300
www.ska.ac.za
releases at www.ska.ac.za
Project updates at
www.facebook.com/skasouthafrica