NRAO ALMA Explorer Learn and Explore NSF AUI
Visit the VLA and its New Mexico environs with exclusive narrated and hosted video tours.
Telescopes > VLA > Explorer > Array Site
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Go to Map Introduction Socorro New Mexico Tech Plains of San Agustin Datil Magdalena
  • Go to Map
  • Introduction
  • The Barn
  • Master Pad
  • Transporters
  • ALMA Test Facility
  • Riding the Rails
  • Long Wavelength Array
  • Pads
  • Configurations
  • At Night
  • Visitors Center
  • Wildlife
  • Special Events Building
  • Telescope Tour
    • Introduction
    • Elevation Gear
    • Receivers
    • Dish Surface
    • Cooling System
    • Electronics
    • Pedestal Room
  • Control Building
    • Introduction
    • Making Fiber Cables
    • Old VLA Correlator
    • Control Room
    • Fiber Optics
    • WIDAR Cabinets
    • WIDAR Cooling Units
    • WIDAR Power Systems
    • WIDAR Circuit Boards
  • Go to Map
  • Electronics Labs
  • Introduction
  • Orthomode Transducers
  • C-Band Receiver
  • Ku-Band Receiver
  • Soldering and X-raying Boards
  • Microsoldering
  • VLBA Data Drives
  • VLBA Correlator
  • Test Rack
  • Ka-Band Receiver
  • VLBA Control Room
  • Data Transmission Module
Master Pad
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After a Very Large Array telescope has been serviced inside the Antenna Assembly Building, otherwise known as "the Barn," one of the two Transporters hauls it to the nearest pad, called the Master Pad, for testing. Here, the telescope receives data from the control room and can participate in observations as it is checked back into active service.

The Master Pad was the first pad constructed at the VLA and received the first VLA telescope in 1975.