As the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope (FYST) gears up for its first light in 2026, its journey to the high Atacama Desert of Chile’s Parque Astronómico Atacama has been shaped not only by scientists and astronomers but also by a network of engineers, machinists, electronics specialists, riggers, and support staff at the Cornell Laboratory for Accelerator-based Sciences and Education (CLASSE).
The telescope will operate at an altitude of 18,400 feet above sea level, above much of Earth’s atmosphere, enabling a wide range of ambitious scientific goals. These include mapping the universe’s evolution from the birth of the first stars and galaxies, measuring the growth of galaxy clusters shaped by dark matter, probing magnetic fields in the Milky Way, and searching for subtle polarization signals in the cosmic microwave background that may point to primordial gravitational waves.
“It is the highest optical-throughput submillimeter telescope ever built, by about a factor of ten,” said Mike Niemack, professor of physics and astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences and lead scientist for FYST’s Prime-Cam instrument. “That opens up a wide range of exciting science, from the cosmic microwave background to new ways of mapping how galaxies formed and evolved.”
Extreme Requirements, Specialized Skills
Achieving these scientific goals requires overcoming some of the most demanding engineering, fabrication, and coordination challenges in modern astronomy. Prime-Cam, one of two instruments planned for FYST, is being outfitted in the Space Sciences building of Cornell. It features multiple low-temperature stages, silicon lenses, optical filters, detector arrays, and readout components. The instrument must operate at cryogenic temperatures, with key detector stages cooled to near absolute zero, and maintain precise optical alignment while surviving transport across continents and final assembly at high altitude, where oxygen is scarce and working time is tightly regulated.
These realities mean the design process does not end when fabrication begins. CLASSE’s ability to adapt designs, respond to testing results, and coordinate across technical disciplines plays a central role in supporting a project of this scale.
“There are many areas where CLASSE expertise is critical, including machining, engineering, riggers, procurement, electronics, scheduling, and human resources for helping manage all the people involved in these efforts.” Niemack said. “In other words, many CLASSE team members are playing essential roles in enabling this research.”
Historical Context and Future Implications
The FYST project is not just a testament to current technological capabilities but also a continuation of humanity’s long-standing quest to understand the cosmos. The Atacama Desert, known for its clear skies and minimal light pollution, has been a focal point for astronomical research for decades. This new telescope promises to build on the legacy of previous observatories in the region, such as the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), by providing unprecedented insights into the universe’s early stages.
Meanwhile, the collaboration between various scientific and technical disciplines highlights the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of modern scientific research. The integration of diverse skill sets is crucial for tackling the complex challenges posed by such ambitious projects.
Looking Ahead
As FYST moves closer to becoming operational, the scientific community eagerly anticipates the groundbreaking discoveries it will facilitate. The telescope’s capabilities could provide critical data to test existing theories about the universe’s formation and evolution, potentially leading to new paradigms in cosmology and astrophysics.
In the coming years, the continued collaboration between scientists, engineers, and support staff will remain vital. Their combined efforts not only push the boundaries of what is technically possible but also ensure that the pursuit of knowledge remains at the forefront of human endeavors.
The successful deployment and operation of the Fred Young Submillimeter Telescope will undoubtedly mark a significant milestone in the field of astronomy, setting the stage for future explorations at the edge of the universe.
