The thirty meter telescope project

30米望远镜将成为21世纪世纪的标志性科学设施之一。它将使人们能够描述太阳系外行星的特性，帮助确定加速宇宙膨胀的暗能量的性质，跟踪恒星、星系和行星的形成过程，并通过研究黑洞和大爆炸期间盛行的物理力，促进基础物理学的进步。TMT伙伴关系由加州理工学院、加州大学、AURA（美国国家光学天文台和空间望远镜科学研究所的运营者）和ACURA（由21所从事天体物理研究的加拿大大学组成的新协会）组成。该项目已为详细设计阶段（DDP）筹集了6400万美元，该阶段于2003年开始，并于2009年随着项目进入建设阶段而结束。加拿大通过其25%的项目份额建立了强大的知识和工业地位。该提案要求DDP的第二次也是最后一次分期付款，与NRC的匹配资金以及CFI、安大略和BC的预先存在的资金一起沿着，将使我们能够履行我们的承诺，完成我们的设计工作份额，并开始从我们参与这个令人兴奋的项目中获益。广泛的资助和大学的直接参与，反映了大学重视他们在指导这个项目中的作用。该提案要求在2006-07、07-08、08-09和09-10四个财政年度每年拨款600万美元，其中150万美元。理想情况下，资金将尽快在每年提供，使我们能够保持一个顺利的合同过程。

The Thirty Meter Telescope will be one of the landmark science facilities of the 21st century. It will allow the characterization of the properties of extra-solar planets, help determine the nature of dark energy that is speeding up the expansion of the universe, follow the processes that form stars, galaxies and planets, and contribute to the advance of fundamental physics through the study of black holes and the physical forces that prevailed during the Big Bang. The TMT partnership is composed of Caltech, the University of California, AURA (operator of the US National Optical Astronomical Observatories and the Space Telescope Science Institute) and ACURA (a new association of 21 Canadian universities that undertake astrophysical research). The project has raised US$64M for the Detailed Design Phase (DDP), initiated in 2003 and ending in 2009 as the project moves into construction. Canada has established a strong intellectual and industrial position through its 25% share of the project. This proposal requests the second and final installment of the DDP, which along with matchng funds from NRC and pre-existing funding from CFI, Ontario and BC will allow us to meet our commitments to complete our share of the design work and begin to reap the benefits of our engagement in this exciting project. The broadly based funding support and direct university engagement reflect the importance that universities attach to their role in guiding this project. The proposal requests a total of $6,000,000 with $1,500,000 in each of the four fiscal years 2006-07, 07-08, 08-09, and 09-10. Ideally the funds will be made available as soon as possible in each year to allow us to maintain a smooth contracting process.