SKA telescope good for SA: Zuma
2010-01-31 23:30
Johannesburg - If South Africa wins the bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio telescope, the question of whether there is alien life could be answered, President Jacob Zuma said in Ethiopia on Sunday.
"Because this high-tech facility is about 50 to 100 times more sensitive than any other radio telescope on Earth, the Square Kilometre Array will be able to probe the edges of our universe.
"It will help us to answer fundamental questions in the fields of astronomy, physics and cosmology, and may even detect intelligent life elsewhere in the universe," Zuma said in a speech prepared for delivery at a session of the African Union Heads of State and Government Assembly being held in Addis Ababa.
South Africa and Australia are competing to host the multi-billion rand Square Kilometre Array, which will allow astronomers to peer back in time almost to the birth of the universe.
Scientists wanted to use the radio telescope to study emissions generated when the first stars and galaxies were formed, some 750 million years after the "big bang" that gave birth to the universe 14 000 million years ago.
The announcement of the choice of site is expected between 2011 and 2012, and construction is scheduled to start in 2013.
Zuma said that if South Africa won the bid to host the radio telescope, other parts of Africa would also reap the benefits.
Africa's capability
"Hosting the Square Kilometre Array will underscore Africa’s capability in science and innovation," he said.
While the central location would be in the Northern Cape in SA, remote stations would be hosted in Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya, Ghana and Zambia.
He said the enormous investment in infrastructure would also contribute to economic growth in the region.
"The requirement for ultra-high speed internet across Africa to operate the Square Kilometre Array will lead to improved ICT infrastructure and access for millions of people."
Zuma also said he hoped an African country would come out on top at the soccer world cup to be held in South Africa later this year.
"We hope... that the final result will help us remember this as a truly African World Cup.
"Our greatest dream is to be able to celebrate an African world football champion for the first time."
On Sunday it was announced at the three-day AU summit in Addis Ababa that Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika would take over the rotating presidency of AU from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi who currently holds the post.
- SAPA