Do the antennas ever break?

The antennas are located in the Atacama Desert at 5000 meters altitude and are constantly exposed to extreme weather conditions and temperatures. How much time will they last? Are they durable through time? In this episode, Mark Galilee, one of the technician engineers of ALMA, will tell us about the antennas and their constant maintenance and inspections to keep the observatory functioning properly.

Furthermore, Fabiola Cruzat, an Array Maintenance Group Supervisor, will help us understand the electronics inside the antennas.

What is ALMA Little Universe?

Journey into the 'Little Universe of ALMA' and uncover the wonders of our cosmic origins. In bite-sized episodes ranging from 3 to 6 minutes, delve into the intricacies of the ALMA Observatory, stationed in the heart of the Atacama Desert. Discover galaxies shrouded in stardust, the first-ever image of a black hole, and even a simplified form of sugar, all made possible by 66 colossal antennas that peer into the Universe with unparalleled depth. Embark on this enlightening journey and learn how ALMA connects us to the vast expanse of the Cosmos.

This podcast was produced by Paige Cromley during her internship at ALMA from Princeton University.