(a) whether the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore had the experience of making large telescope;
(b) if so, the reasons for purchasing a telescope from abroad; and
(c) the details of foreign exchange involved therein?
(a) whether the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore had the experience of making large telescope;
(b) if so, the reasons for purchasing a telescope from abroad; and
(c) the details of foreign exchange involved therein?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (SHRI BACHI SINGH RAWAT)
(a), (b) & (c) The Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore has experience in the old technology of building a telescope, with an aperture of 2-m, with slow optics of f=3.5 primary and with an equatorial mount. The Institute had no previous experience in developing a New Technology Telescope nor in remote operations of the high altitude telescopes with prevailing low temperature -25 degrees centigrade and low humidity conditions. Therefore, in view of the technical and scientific requirements and on the advice of the National Advisory Committee, a semi-robotic remotely operated new-technology telescope of 2-m aperture, with fast optics of f=1.75 primary and equipped with an altazimuth mount was jointly developed by the Institute and the manufacturer, namely, M/s EOS Technologies, Inc., Tucson, Arizona, USA and was installed at Hanle in South-Eastern Ladakh. The cost of the telescope system including its installation is US $ 2,818,956/-.