Spain is offering €400 million to bring the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) to the Canary Islands, a bid to save the project after the US government stopped funding it. The telescope, which was set to be built on Hawaii, will instead be relocated to La Palma due to protests by local indigenous groups.
The TMT was initially intended for Mauna Kea in Hawaii but has been delayed several times due to opposition from Native American communities who consider the mountain sacred. The US government announced in June that it would no longer provide funding for the telescope, citing other priorities like the Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) in Chile.
Spain’s proposal aims to benefit not only Spain and La Palma but also the European Union and Chile. The Canary Islands offer favorable climatic conditions, making them an attractive location for astronomy research. Additionally, the construction of the telescope could boost the local economy.
The Spanish government believes that the move will demonstrate its commitment to science despite some countries cutting back on investment in research. “While some countries are reducing investment in research or stopping it altogether, Spain is a haven for science,” said Research Minister Diana Morant.
Source: https://www.heise.de/en/news/For-400-million-euros-Spain-wants-to-bring-Thirty-Meter-Telescope-to-La-Palma-10500150.html