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<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2>25 May 2012, Amsterdam, the Netherlands – The Members
of the SKA Organisation today agreed on a dual site solution for the Square
Kilometre Array telescope, a crucial step towards building the world’s largest
and most sensitive radio telescope.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2>The ASKAP and MeerKAT precursor dishes will be
incorporated into Phase I of the SKA which will deliver more science and will
maximise on investments already made by both Australia and South
Africa.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2>The majority of the members were in favour of a
dual-site implementation model for SKA. The members noted the report from the
SKA Site Advisory Committee that both sites were well suited to hosting the SKA
and that the report provided justification for the relative advantages and
disadvantages of both locations, but that they identified Southern Africa as the
preferred site. The members also received advice from the working group set up
to look at dual site options.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2>The majority of SKA dishes in Phase 1 will be built in
South Africa, combined with MeerKAT. Further SKA dishes will be added to the
ASKAP array in Australia. All the dishes and the mid frequency aperture arrays
for Phase II of the SKA will be built in Southern Africa while the low frequency
aperture array antennas for Phase I and II will be built in
Australia.</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2> </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2>More at <A
href="http://www.skatelescope.org/news/dual-site-agreed-square-kilometre-array-telescope/">http://www.skatelescope.org/news/dual-site-agreed-square-kilometre-array-telescope/</A></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2> </FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT size=2>M</FONT></STRONG></DIV></BODY></HTML>