E-ELT – European Extremely Large Telescope
EIE Space Technologies Srl
EIE GROUP is a key partner in the design and construction of the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), the world's largest optical/infrared telescope.
Technical specifications
- Primary Mirror Diameter
- 39 m
- Telescope Height
- 65 m
- Telescope Weight (mechanisms included)
- 3500 t
- Dome Diameter
- 95 m
- Dome Height
- 80 m
- Dome Weight (excluding auxiliary buildings)
- 4980 t
- Primary Mirror Segments
- 798 hexagonal segments
- Segment Diameter
- 1.4 m
- Segment Thickness
- 5 cm
- Dome Foundation Height
- 12.40 m
- Dome Foundation Thickness
- 1 m
- Dome Foundation Inner Diameter
- 79 m
About
EIE GROUP has been working alongside ESO since 2007 in the study and definition of the world’s largest telescope, the E-ELT. This involved developing Feasibility Studies, Conceptual Design Studies, and FEED (Front End Engineering Design) studies for the characterization of the Dome and Telescope Main Structure, initially for a 42m diameter primary mirror and subsequently for the final 39m diameter version. In 2016, ESO awarded the contract for the “Design, Manufacture, Transport, Construction, On-Site Assembly and Verification of the Dome and Main Structure of the European Extremely Large Telescope” to an Italian consortium, ACe Consortium, which includes EIE GROUP. E-ELT will be a revolutionary optical instrument for mid and near-infrared observations, capable of collecting up to 13 times more light than current large telescopes and providing images up to 16 times sharper than those obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. The project involves the construction of the telescope structure, the rotating building, auxiliary buildings, and all civil works. EIE GROUP was the only company worldwide to receive contracts from ESO for both the telescope and building design. The dome will have a diameter of 95m, a height of approximately 80m, and a weight of about 4980t (excluding auxiliary buildings and civil works).
Documentation
No public datasheet yet — request the datasheet / ICD from the supplier.