[alma_na] [almanews]ALMA Groundbreaking

[Al Wootten]

Dear Friend of ALMA,

Last week the official ALMA Groundbreaking ceremony occurred just after
the meeting of the ALMA Board in Santiago and Calama on 3-5 November.
At the 6 November Groundbreaking ceremony, the new ALMA logo was unveiled
to the assembled guests, after which remarks were made by principals in the
Project as well as representatives of Chilean Government, members of the 
scientific community and representatives of the Atacameño towns.

ALMA Director Massimo Tarenghi 
was joined by Wayne van Citters of NSF and Piet van der Kruit of the ESO
Council, representing the ALMA funding agencies, to put in place the
ceremonial first bricks and mortar at the site of the Operations Support
Facility (OSF).  The OSF is located at an altitude of 9600 feet astride the
new road from the San Pedro de Atacama to Toconao highway to the array site
at 16000 feet.  Begun July 26, that road is now open and was traversed by the
Board and its guests on 5 November.  

A Press Release may be found on the NRAO home page, or on the ALMA page,
at: http://www.alma.nrao.edu/

Some snapshots taken by Ewine van Dishoeck and Al Wootten may be viewed
at:
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/ALMA_Groundbreaking.html

Local Chilean Press coverage may be found at:
http://www.mercurioantofagasta.cl/site/edic/20031107050353/pags/20031107052429.html

Clear skies,
Al Wootten
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| Alwyn  Wootten   (http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/)	 |
| Project Scientist, Atacama Large Millimeter Array/US   |
| Astronomer, National Radio Astronomy Observatory       |        
| 520 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903-2475, USA |
| (434)-296-0329 voice             Help us build The ALMA|        
| (434)-296-0278 FAX               {>    {>    {>    {>  |
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