July 2013

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich Visits VLA


ABOVE: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, center, visited the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) on Sunday, 14 July. He toured the facility and received briefings from NRAO managers and staff about the operations of the VLA and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). Here, he discusses the VLA rail system with VLA site director Chris Langley, left, and safety officer Lonnie Guin, right.

NRAO personnel provided the Senator with an introduction to radio astronomy and the role of the VLA as a world leader in astronomical research. Other topics included details of the technology of the VLA and its recent upgrade, along with the future outlooks for research and funding.

"I commend the more than 200 NRAO employees in New Mexico for the incredible work they do every day. The NRAO Very Large Array conducts world-class science here in our state, and I thank Dr. Dale Frail for his leadership in implementing the EVLA upgrade. I know that the VLA will continue to be at the forefront of scientific discoveries in radio astronomy for decades to come," Heinrich said.

Sen. Heinrich climbed into one of the VLA's 230-ton dish antennas, then saw some of the state-of-the-art electronics that helps scientists unravel mysteries of the Universe. His tour included a trip to the VLA control room, and a brief explanation of some of the scientific research underway with NRAO telescopes. The Senator's New Mexico field staff worked with NRAO management to arrange his visit.


Sen. Heinrich inspects the vertex room of a VLA antenna, where the ultra-sensitive radio receivers are housed.


NRAO's Dr. Rick Perley, right, explains the VLA dish antenna to Sen. Heinrich.


Dr. Dale Frail, NRAO Director for New Mexico Operations, with Sen. Heinrich in the VLA Control Room.


New Mexico Tech graduate student Kristina Nyland explains the Ph.D dissertation research she is doing using the VLA and VLBA.


All Photos Credit: NRAO/AUI

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