“I have seen ALMA grow from a project to an observatory”

Mar 7, 2023 | News | 0 comments

Tags: ALMA

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That day, all expectations were set at the port of Antofagasta. The first ALMA antenna had finally arrived in our hands and it was necessary to accompany its transfer to the Vertex hangar at OSF.

The television and print media of that October 2007 were in charge of recording that milestone that, almost 16 years later, Héctor Ceballos, our Warehouse Supervisor, has never forgotten.

The 56-year-old commercial engineer had been working for just seven months on the team in charge of managing the logistics and material control processes for all operations at OSF.

“I have seen this organization grow from being just an ‘ALMA Project’ to become the ALMA Observatory, today one of the most important in the world,” says Héctor.

It was early in the construction phase of the observatory and Héctor was one of 20 ALMA people working at the site, in addition to the contractor staff. “We had to walk a lot outside, with overalls and boots, in the sun, because the only materials that existed were stored in containers in a sector located in front of where the Residencia is today, far from the office,” recalls Héctor.

In his first year, he worked on his own to set up a large warehouse for materials and spare parts for the antennas. “The challenge was very interesting. I had to think about how to set it up and design it with all the necessary equipment and create the first basic procedures. Something immensely motivating for me professionally and personally.”

Little by little, a working group began to form, to whom Héctor has always been grateful. “It’s a happy team that enjoys what they do every day. We try to transmit that to the users, who for the most part understand our work and also become part of the pleasant and collaborative work environment.”

During all these years, Hector vividly remembers the arrival of the transporters and the transfer of the first antenna to the AOS. While in terms of science, Hector highlights the first image of a black hole, known worldwide in 2019.

“I have seen a lot of water flowing under the bridge in these 16 years. Many people have passed in all this time to form today an Observatory recognized worldwide. Personally, it has been a life and professional experience. Time has gone by very quickly, and I feel that there is still a lot to do”, smiles Héctor.

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