U.S. Senator Tom Udall Visits VLA
ABOVE: U.S. Senator Tom Udall, center, visited the National Radio Astronomy Observatory's Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array on Monday, July 2, for a briefing and tour of the facility. Here, he's in one of the VLA's giant dish antennas with NRAO Astronomer Rick Perley, left, and NRAO Director Tony Beasley.
Sen. Udall received a background briefing on radio astronomy, the VLA's history and achievements, the recent upgrade project that has greatly multiplied the iconic telescope's capabilities, and the future outlook for research and budgeting. In addition to seeing the inside of a VLA antenna, Sen. Udall got a close look at the state-of-the-art electronics that make the system work, and visited with a number of NRAO employees and tourists.
The Senator's visit, during the Congressional July 4th break, was arranged by his New Mexico staff.
NRAO engineer Kerry Shores, right, explains the operation of the VLA's central, special-purpose supercomputer to Sen. Udall. The digital machine is housed in a large clean room.
The Senator poses with young tourists in the VLA Visitor Center.
Inside the "vertex room" of a VLA dish antenna, NRAO employee Eric Chavez explains the electronics to Sen. Udall.
Atop one of the transporter machines that carry the 230-ton dish antennas across the high desert, NRAO employee Martin Lopez guides the Senator.
All Photos Credit: NRAO/AUI
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