In September 2011, ALMA officially began science operations, which meant scientists from around the world could request time to use the array and examine the universe for their proposed research. In this photo, the multinational antennas of the array move as one.
North American ALMA Antenna heads to the high site
The first North American ALMA antenna rides up to the 16,500-foot elevation high site in northern Chile on the back of a transporter. This 12-meter antenna will join the first antenna, a 12-meter Japanese antenna that was placed prior to this climb.
ALMA transporter prepares to lift antenna
At the ALMA Operations Support Facility in northern Chile, a North American ALMA antenna is readied for a ride on the Transporter up to the array site on the Chajnantor Plain, 40 km into the Chilean Andes. The custom-made lifter has 28 wheels for a jostle-free ride.
Testing antennas behind the OSF
Behind ALMA’s Operations Support Facility’s Technical Building is the large antenna testing area. Here two North American ALMA antennas are undergoing final testing, while a third has passed and is being readied for a haul up to the array on the back of a Transporter.
Remote Controlled Monster Truck
This man is driving a 28-wheeled monster truck — by the little remote control device in his hands. He is one of only a few drivers in the world who has been trained to control an ALMA Transporter. Besides driving it, he has to carefully control how it clamps and lifts an ALMA antenna on to its back. Here, he is carefully watching an ALMA antenna being slowly lifted from its mount at the Operations Support Facility in northern Chile.
Flying Saucer or ALMA dish?
A 12-meter North American ALMA dish is raised from its construction platform by a ceiling crane inside the Vertex Assembly Building at the ALMA Operations Support Facility in northern Chile. It was then driven to and lowered onto a telescope base. From below the rounded shape of the dish resembles a fly saucer.