Extremely Large Telescope: Astronomy’s Next Big Leap …
Authored by John Fitch (PPI Course Presenter and Principal Consultant)
Introduction
In 2022, INCOSE published a free e-book titled Letters to My Younger Self - How Systems Engineering Changed My Life (hereinafter LTMYS). This book is a “compendium of letters from around the world written from system engineers in the field to their younger selves, to give a glimpse into the life they have lived and the insights they have gained along the way.”
Twenty-five systems engineering practitioners from around the globe shared their stories, highlighting key events, decisions, individuals, personal traits, and learnings that shaped their careers. At 92 pages, LTMYS can be a quick read, but is perhaps better digested at a slower pace to allow personal reflection, comparing and contrasting their stories with your personal story.
My process of reflection combined the personal “resonates with me” approach with a bit of quantitative analysis and pattern-based structured thinking. First, I looked for common themes by filtering the document based on keywords (plain old string text searches), building on the most frequency “hits” by comparing side-by-side-by-side the “answers” given by the practitioners to derive common themes, beliefs or practices among the authors.
Second, I mapped some of the responses to a Life Design decision pattern that I developed circa 2000 to see which decisions were deemed most influential in the lives of the authors. We can’t help it – ask anyone to share their life story and their beliefs, priorities and perspectives (all of which imply decisions) will be revealed, but incompletely and open to misinterpretation. Having a decision pattern (that works across numerous human beings) reduces the risk of misinterpretation and increases the chances of discerning useful principles that may be applied in our own lives as we face similar choices.
Evident themes
Before diving in, our readers should note that nothing about this analysis can be stated with extreme confidence. The sample consisting of 25 authors was certainly not randomly chosen from among the global systems engineering community. Though picked for diversity, they generally represent the best of the best, chosen because they have been recognized as influential contributors to the systems engineering discipline. It’s also likely that the process of developing LTMYS content guided the themes that were addressed. Nevertheless, the preponderance of evidence from their life stories suggests that certain personal traits and mindsets are strong contributors to success in the engineering of systems. Read more (42-minute read)
In the desolate landscape of Chile’s Atacama Desert, a colossal structure known as the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is rising atop Cerro Armazones. Managed by the European Southern Observatory (ESO), this groundbreaking project aims to reshape our understanding of the universe when it becomes operational in 2028. The ELT promises images of the cosmos sharper and richer than ever before, offering astronomers new insights into the depths of space.
Engineering Marvel in the Desert
The ELT is not just a telescope but a monumental engineering feat. “We are pushing the current engineering limit,” said Davide Deiana, the deputy site manager of the ELT’s dome and main structure. “Everything has to work perfectly.” The telescope’s dome will stand 74 meters tall and 87 meters in diameter, taller than Rome’s Colosseum. The structure will house a 39-meter main mirror composed of 798 hexagonal panels, each equipped with pistons and sensors to maintain its precise shape.
Life at Paranal Observatory
Located near the existing Paranal Observatory, the ELT benefits from the region’s high altitude and extremely dry climate—ideal conditions for astronomical observations. The Paranal complex includes facilities like the Very Large Telescope (VLT) and a residence that houses up to 150 staff members. “We try to make this place feel like a home away from home,” said Vanessa Peidro, head of logistics and facilities. Staff members often spend half their time on-site, working in rotations due to the remote location.
Advanced Technology and Challenges
The ELT will utilize advanced adaptive optics systems, including lasers that create artificial “guide stars” in the Earth’s upper atmosphere. These guide stars help the telescope measure atmospheric turbulence and adjust its mirrors in real time, effectively canceling out distortion. “The ELT is going to be a revolution,” said Dr. Eleonora Sani, deputy head of science operations at Paranal. “Each single observation with the ELT is going to be mind blowing—something that has never been seen with such depth, with such granularity.” Read more (4-minute read)
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