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January 2021
Governance
The SKA Observatory is born
Governance
SKA completes its final reviews ahead of construction
Inauguration of the permanent SKA Headquarters at Jodrell Bank, UK
Governance
SKA Observatory Treaty signed in Rome, Italy
Science
First Science Data Challenge launched
Governance
Ratifications of the SKA treaty begin
Engineering
Critical Design Reviews for each engineering element begin
Engineering
First SKA-Low prototype station completed on site
Governance
International negotiations to establish the SKA Observatory conclude
Engineering
First prototype SKA dish assembled in Shijiazhuang, China
Engineering
System Preliminary Design Review
Engineering
Preliminary Design Reviews begin for each engineering element
Governance
European Commission identifies SKA as a key project
Governance
International negotiations to establish the SKA Observatory begin in Rome, Italy
Science
Fourth SKA Science Book published
Governance
Jodrell Bank selected to host the permanent SKA Headquarters
Engineering
Creation of the SKA engineering consortia
Engineering
Dual site decision
November 2011
Governance
SKA Organisation established at Jodrell Bank near Manchester, UK as a Limited Company
2010
Engineering
Production of a Baseline Design and Advanced Instrumentation Programme
2008
Governance
Allocation of European funding then national matching funds to further progress development
2007
Governance
SKA emerges as a high priority project in the European Astronet science vision
2006
Governance
SKA added to European strategic research infrastructure list
2006
Governance
Australia with New Zealand and Southern Africa shortlisted as potential host sites
2005
Engineering
Second SKA engineering book published
2005
Engineering
Technology down-select and production of a Reference Design
2004
Governance
Call for proposals to host the SKA
2004
Governance
International SKA Project Office established
2004
Science
Third SKA Science Book published
2003
Science
Five key science projects are selected as priority research areas
2001
Governance
First SKA logo developed
2001
Engineering
Site identification process begins
Governance
International SKA Steering Committee & Secretariat established
1999
Engineering
First SKA technology book published
1999
Science
Second SKA Science Book published
1998
Science
First SKA Science Book published
1998
Science
First SKA Science Book published
1998
Governance
The name Square Kilometre Array is chosen
1996
Engineering
First engineering meeting - Delft, the Netherlands
1996
Engineering
First engineering meeting in Delft, the Netherlands
1995
First funding for dedicated SKA R&D and prototyping
1995
First combined science and engineering meeting in Guiyang, China
1995
First funding allocated for dedicated technology research and prototyping
1995
Science
First dedicated Science Meeting in Guiyang, China
1993
Science
International Union of Radio Science creates a large telescope working group
1993
Governance
The International Union of Radio Science establishes a Large Telescope Working Group
1990
Science
Meeting of the International Astronomical Union on radio interferometry in Socorro, New Mexico
Early 1980s
Science
Suggestions for a large radio telescope first appear in several countries.
1980s
Engineering
Very Large Array, New Mexico, USA
1980s
Science
Suggestions for a large radio telescope first appear in a number of countries
1971
Engineering
Effelsberg telescope, Germany
1967
Engineering
Pulsar Array, Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge, UK
1964
Engineering
One Mile Telescope, Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge, UK
1961
Engineering
Parkes telescope, Australia
1957
Engineering
Lovell telescope, Jodrell Bank, UK
1956
Engineering
Dwingeloo telescope, the Netherlands
1946
Science
First interferometric astronomical measurements at radio wavelengths published
1940s
Engineering
Left over radar equipment used to jump start radio astronomy