How to carry a telescope
Obviously, it depends on its size. But here I’m speaking about the ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) which will be fully operational in 2012 and will be composed initially of 66 high-precision telescopes. These 12-meter submillimeter quality antennas will weigh about 115 tons and be installed at an altitude of about 5,000 meters. Now, the first ALMA antenna transporter has been successfully tested. Even if it’s not the world’s biggest truck, this is still a ‘colossus on wheels.’ This 28-wheel truck is 10 meters wide, 20 meters long and 6 meters high, weighs 130 tons and has as much power as two Formula 1 engines. It should be operational by the end of 2007. read story