Report Title:

UH; Astronomy; Appropriation

 

Description:

Appropriates funds for the institute for astronomy at the University of Hawaii.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1585

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to astronomy.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the University of Hawaii, institute for astronomy has been extremely successful in promoting and developing many large telescope projects on Mauna Kea and Haleakala. Over $1,000,000,000 have been expended on Mauna Kea and Haleakala for the development of astronomical facilities which offers major scientific benefits to the University, the State, and the international community in astronomy. Today, the institute for astronomy is recognized as the preeminent center for astronomical research with the world’s largest and technologically advanced ground-based telescopes for optical, infrared and submillimeter observations. These research facilities employ over seven hundred fifty people (of which seventy per cent are local hires) at an annual operating cost totaling more than $100,000,000. It is the vision of the institute for astronomy to focus on developing Hawaii’s superior natural resources in astronomy (Mauna Kea and Haleakala) consistent with the Mauna Kea master plan. Astronomy in Hawaii, under the leadership of the institute for astronomy, has the potential of becoming a multi-billion dollar high-tech industry that would attract businesses in electronics, optics, precision mechanics, and information technology. All of which would provide significant economic benefits to the State of Hawaii and counties of Hawaii and Maui.

Technological advancements have dramatically increased the image quality, viewing field, sensitivity, and photometric range of the modern day telescope. These capabilities have significantly increased the dynamic range of telescope observations, particularly the visibility of faint objects obscured by bright light sources like the blinding glare of the sun. The institute for astronomy has initiated a conceptual study with a team of internationally recognized scientists and engineers to develop the first technologically advanced telescope consistent with the decadal review that provides this unique scientific capabilities not currently available among the larger ground based or in space telescopes. This study has attracted strong scientific interest from the astronomical community and federal sponsoring agencies and is seriously being considered for funding. Development of new adaptive optics techniques and sophisticated instrumentation for this new innovative telescope is also essential to pursue research opportunities never explored before by astronomers.

The institute for astronomy was the first to develop the world’s largest detector arrays in the optical (8,192 x 8,192 pixels) and in the infrared (1,024 x 1,024 pixels) that significantly enhance the image quality and viewing field for ground based astronomy. This scientific accomplishment, published in astronomical journals in 1995, brought strong scientific credibility to the institute for astronomy and considerable interest from the astronomical community. Solid-state detectors in specially designed instruments are used to record digital images from visible and infrared light collected by telescopes such as those on Mauna Kea and Haleakala. The retina of the present-day astronomical camera is a large electron chip. Chips for detecting visible light are made of silicon and those for detecting infrared are made from semiconductors such as indium antimonide (InSb) or mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe). In the last few years, there have been enormous improvements in the sensitivity and number of pixels for these detectors. As the lead organization for a team of astronomers and engineers from other national and international academic institutions, the institute for astronomy has contracts with several commercial electro-optical companies for the development of these detectors. More than $8,000,000 has been invested for this research effort with companies such as Raytheon, Rockwell Science Center, and MIT Lincoln Labs with no contribution from general funds. The institute for astronomy is currently developing larger detectors in optical (12,288 x 12,288 pixels) and infrared (2,408 x 2,048 pixels) to further improve the quantum efficiency, sensitivity, image quality and viewing field. The institute for astronomy is collaborating with National Aeronautic and Space Administration’s Ames research center for the development of critical technologies, design, and manufacturing approaches for the proposed near-infrared focal plane arrays to be incorporated in the next generation space telescope.

The Institute For Astronomy have also invested hundreds of thousands of dollars for high-tech precision electronic-discharge-machinery, computer-numeric controlled equipment and computer-aided-design hardware and software primarily through loan programs with the research corporation of the University of Hawaii. These machinery and equipment were amortized over three to five years through Institute For Astronomy’s job-order-system that are predominantly funded by extramural (non-general fund) instrumentation projects. These technological investments have dramatically increased institute for astronomy capabilities in the design and fabrication of state-of-the-art astronomical instrumentation.

Today, the Institute For Astronomy is recognized as a world leader in the design and fabrication of astronomical instrumentation that incorporates large-format detectors and optical devices that counteract the blurring effect produced by the earth’s atmosphere and telescope movement. Our preeminence in detector technology, adaptive optics and engineering/instrumentation has enabled the institute for astronomy to secure several major instrumentation contracts in fiscal year 1996 and 1997 totaling more than $14,000,000. These contracts include the near infrared imager for the 8-meter Gemini northern telescope; the infrared camera and spectrograph for the national astronomical observatory of Japan 8.2-meter Subaru telescope; the spectrum-cross-dispersed spectrograph for the National Aeronautic and Space Administration infrared telescope facility; the advanced electro-optical system spectrograph for the 3.7-meter United States Air Force AEOS telescope; and the high performance adaptic-optics imager for the 8-meter Gemini northern telescope.

The National Research Council is a nonprofit organization that provides independent advice on science and technology issues under a congressional charter. It is the principal operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering that prepares the decadal review. The decadal review has ranked several major astronomy projects for the next ten years (2001 to 2010) that are well-suited for Mauna Kea and Haleakala. These projects include:

Other major programs identified for Hawaii include:

The legislature further finds that astronomy in Hawaii stands at the threshold of unprecedented opportunities to further build on its research, graduate education, and technical strengths to greater international prominence and excellence. Like the school of medicine and its proposed $141,000,000 medical and biotechnology facilities in Kakaako Makai, the opportunities for developing more than one advanced technology telescope on Mauna Kea and Haleakala could ultimately be a spring board for a multi-billion dollar industry for Hawaii. Unfortunately, the lack of adequate resources would greatly reduce the institute for astronomy chances to actively pursue and influence the development of advanced technology telescopes on Mauna Kea and Haleakala.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $709,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2001-2002, to maintain the institute for astronomy at the University of Hawaii as the leading center for astronomical research, and to develop Hawaii's natural resources in astronomy, including further strengthening research and graduate programs to greater international prominence and excellence and providing funds for "next generation telescope development", engineering and technical support, computer support, and related equipment and vehicles.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the University of Hawaii for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2001.

INTRODUCED BY:

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