Yesterday, 4 July 2013, we officially opened our newest office space for CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science, in Western Australia.
But it’s really more than just office space; the MRO Support Facility is actually the new support hub for our ASKAP telescope and the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO), which is located about 350km inland from the coastal city of Geraldton.
CSIRO Astronomy and Space Science staff in Geraldton.
The MSF was designed as the ‘home base’ for CSIRO staff whose primary role it is to provide remote operations services for ASKAP. Aside from the office essentials, the following features are also packed into the building:
- An Operations Room that allows researchers to remotely access, operate and monitor the ASKAP telescope, as well as other projects underway at the MRO.
- A Portal Room that will provide access for regional researchers who have been awarded time on iVEC’s Pawsey Centre supercomputer in Perth via a super-high speed network link.
- Workshop space for the repair of ASKAP equipment where on-site repairs are not appropriate.
- Meeting and conference facilities, as well as a home base for CSIRO’s Educational and Outreach activities in the region.
The MSF will also provide support services for the other international projects under development at the MRO, such as the Murchison Widefield Array and the future Square Kilometre Array (SKA) telescope.
A small local event was held to mark the official opening of the MSF and thank the local community for their support.
Yesterday’s ceremony was a local community event held to not only mark the official opening of the MSF, but also a chance for us to say “thank-you” to the regional stakeholders from the area who have been crucial in the establishment of the MRO, the ASKAP telescope and also the MSF itself.
Read more about the MRO Support Facility.
ASKAP Project Director Ant Schinckel and CASS Chief Lewis Ball pull back the curtains on the new MSF.
7th July 2013 at 10:08 am
This is going to be so good for Geraldton. When combined with the NBN, we really will be well placed to become a technology enhanced town, with so many more flow on opportunities. Great news guys.