In a major setback for the Australian / NZ Square Kilometre Array bid, the SKA Scientific Panel has recommended the Southern African bid to host the facility.
It is understood that the Scientific Panel report identified very little difference between the two sites in terms of scientific merit, still keeping the door open to the selection of the Australian / NZ site.
In fact, both sites have good advantages - the Southern African site would be cheaper to build and is at a higher altitude, but the Australian / NZ site would provide better radio quietness, be less likely to be impacted by future development and is in a far more politically stable environment. As such, either decision is still on the table.
The $2.5 Billion project is seen as one of the worlds best science facilities, comparable to the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland.
The final decision for the SKA site location will be made by the four countries represented on the SKA board of directors - China, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain, who are expected to make their decision on April 4th 2012. The board of directors will meet on March 19th in the UK to discuss the findings of the Scientific Panel, and allow both sites to contest any of the findings made.
As a wildcard choice, rumours of a dual site selection continue to swirl, although this is seen as a poor scientific option that is likely to drive up construction costs.
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