The Pie Town, New Mexico, antenna is featured in these photographs. |
The 10 antennas for the Very Long
Baseline Array are identical, manufactured by the Universal Antenna
Division of RSI. The parts were built in Texas, and then transported
to each site by truck (except St. Croix and Mauna Kea!). Once at the
site, it took six to eight months to put the antenna together.
Construction was begun on the array in 1986 and completed in 1992.
Each antenna weighs 240 tons. The diameter of the dish is 25 meters (82 feet). The height of the dish from the ground to the top of the subreflector when the dish is in its stowed position (as it is in the photo at left) is nearly as tall as a 10-story building.
For more information about the various parts of the antenna, click
on the labels on the photograph. Then continue on to the antenna building.
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National Radio
