Hydroven, a new challenge at the heart of global astrophysics

News

From the ELT to the Giant Magellan Telescope: Italian hydraulic technology in support of space research.

After the success of the collaboration for the Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), Hydroven and Tomelleri Engineering renew their partnership for another internationally relevant project: the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT), currently under construction at the Las Campanas Observatory in the Atacama Desert, Chile. The experience gained during the ELT project has enabled Hydroven to competently tackle the technical challenges of the GMT, adapting its solutions to the specific requirements of the new telescope.

A comparison between two giants of astronomy

The solutions provided by Hydroven for these two telescopes represent tangible examples of high technological complexity applications in the scientific sector. The following table summarises the main technical elements of the ELT and GMT.

PROJECT ELT GMT
Primary mirror diameter 39 meters 25.4 meters
Hydraulic system 36 mechanisms for 360° rotation without vibrations Power unit for dome orientation on skids
Main motors 4 x 90 kW for movement 3 x 90 kW
Auxiliary motors 4 x 22 kW for cooling 3 x 15 kW
Oil tank capacity 10,000 liters 7,500 liters

The new supply for the GMT includes a single hydraulic power unit for dome orientation, which rotates on skids.

It has three 90 kW motors and three 15 kW motors, with a 7,500-litre oil tank. This solution ensures precise and reliable dome movement, essential for high-precision astronomical observations.

Discover more about the Giant Magellan

hydraulic power unit for GMT telescope

This new collaboration confirms Hydroven and Tomelleri Engineering's commitment to contributing to the development of high-quality scientific infrastructure, supporting astronomical research into new frontiers.