Dedication of the Very Large Array

Dedication of the Very Large Array on the Plains of San Augustine, NM. The $78-million facility, whose construction began in 1972, consists of 27 dishes arranged in the shape of a Y; two arms are each 21 km long and the third is 19 km long. The design capability is one or two orders of magnitude higher in sensitivity and angular resolution than any existing array. Each of the 27 parabolic dishes is 25 meters in diameter and fully steerable. Persons identifiable on the platform left Manuel Lujan (Representative from NM), Carl Heiles (Berkeley), Harrison Schmitt (Senator from NM), Donald Langenberg (Deputy Director, National Science Foundation ), Bruce King (Governor of NM), Morton S. Roberts (Director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory) at the rostrum, David S. Heeschen (former NRA Director) Frank Press (President's Science Adviser), Frank Johnson (NSF assistant director), John Slaughter (Director Designate of NSF), Pete Domerici (Senator from NM), Jack Lancaster (VLA project manager), and Gerald Tape (President, Associated Universities Inc.)., Credit Line: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual  Archives, Physics Today Collection
Abstract/Description: Dedication of the Very Large Array on the Plains of San Augustine, NM. The $78-million facility, whose construction began in 1972, consists of 27 dishes arranged in the shape of a Y; two arms are each 21 km long and the third is 19 km long. The design capability is one or two orders of magnitude higher in sensitivity and angular resolution than any existing array. Each of the 27 parabolic dishes is 25 meters in diameter and fully steerable. Persons identifiable on the platform left Manuel Lujan (Representative from NM), Carl Heiles (Berkeley), Harrison Schmitt (Senator from NM), Donald Langenberg (Deputy Director, National Science Foundation ), Bruce King (Governor of NM), Morton S. Roberts (Director of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory) at the rostrum, David S. Heeschen (former NRA Director) Frank Press (President's Science Adviser), Frank Johnson (NSF assistant director), John Slaughter (Director Designate of NSF), Pete Domerici (Senator from NM), Jack Lancaster (VLA project manager), and Gerald Tape (President, Associated Universities Inc.).
Subject(s): Equipment and supplies
Portraits, Group
Heiles, Carl
Langenberg, D. N., 1932-
Roberts, Morton
Heeschen, David Sutphin
Press, Frank, 1924-
Credit Line: AIP Emilio Segrè Visual Archives, Physics Today Collection
Catalog ID: Heiles Carl D1