Name of the Project
Hydrogen Epoch of Reionisation Array (Hera) project.

Location
The project is located a few kilometres from the MeerKAT radio telescope, at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) South Africa Losberg site near Carnarvon, in South Africa’s Western Cape province.

Client
SKA South Africa.

Project Description
Hera, which was recently granted the status of an SKA precursor telescope, currently has nineteen, 14 m radio dishes at the SKA South Africa Losberg site. The project entails increasing the number of dishes to 37.

This telescope aims to detect the distinctive signature that will enable astronomers to understand the formation and evolution of the very first luminous sources – the first stars and galaxies in the universe.

Hera will operate with minimal man-made radio interference and will explore the billion-year period after hydrogen collapsed into the first galaxies a few hundred years after the Big Bang.

The telescope has a minimalist design, which makes it a relatively inexpensive structure.

As each antenna will point in a fixed direction, they do not have to move around, so no expensive moving parts are required.

Jobs to be Created
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The radio dishes are expected to be in operation by 2018.

Latest Developments
The project has attracted additional funding of $9.5-million to expand its capabilities.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
SKA SA communications manager Lorenzo Raynard, cell +27 71 454 0658 or email lorenzo@ska.ac.za.