August 11th, 2017

Heinrich tours Magdalena Ridge Observatory, announces federal funding

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich toured the Magdalena Ridge Observatory on Friday after announcing congressional funding for the observatory’s interferometer project.

“It’s a facility with enormous promise,” Heinrich said. “We’re excited to be able to secure some federal funding to keep this moving down the road. I think that the science of being able to track objects in space is becoming more important over time, both from a scientific point of view and a defense point of view.”

Heinrich said that was the reason $5 million in funding was secured from the Fiscal 2017 budget to help build the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer. Heinrich saw the first of 10 telescopes that will become the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI). When complete, the 10 telescopes of MROI will be arrayed in a Y-shape and will be able to achieve a resolution 100 times greater than the Hubble Telescope.

“We’re working on the 2018 bill,” Heinrich said.

The funding will go toward the first telescope on the ridge, which is being moved into place, and the second telescope, which is under construction. The project is expected to cost $25 million when complete.

Heinrich said he had been to the ridge before, but this was the first time he actually toured the facility.

More from the senator’s visit will be featured in the Aug. 17 edition of El Defensor Chieftain.

By: Scott Turner

Source: El Defensor Chieftain