What are the plans for securing the funding needed to fill out the antenna array?
A7. The SETI Institute and its partner, UC. Berkeley, have plans to increase the size of the array in stages. Dependent upon the availability of funds, the first expansion to 128 dishes with additional control building and other support components, is expected to cost between $18 -$20M. The next 128 (256 total) is budgeted at an additional $20M ($156K per dish). Q8. Why is the Air Force interested in using this sensor as opposed to others? A8. The unique design of the Allen Telescope Array (ATA) is intriguing to the Air Force because it provides a similar sensitivity to a very large dish antenna, but at a cheaper cost for the same collecting area. This is known as a Large-Number Small-Diameter concept, and fits well with the Air Force’s goal of conducting its mission in a fiscally responsible manner. The AF working with the ATA may be a natural win-win relationship. Specifically, the AF requires additional sensors to observe orbiting objects during the daytime, because many of its Elec
