ALMA antenna transporters, Otto and Lore being shipped

On December 3 and 4 - 2007, the two ALMA antenna transporters, Otto and Lore, were being loaded onto a barge on the Neckar at Heilbronn harbour (Germany) to start their long journey to Chile. From there, they will travel to Antwerpen (Belgium) and then put onto a ship towards the port of Mejillones, in the north of Chile, to finally reach the ALMA base, close to San Pedro de Atacama. The ALMA antenna transporters are each 20 meter long, 10 meter wide and 6 meter high, and weigh 130 tonnes. They will be able to transport a 115-tonne antenna and set it down on a concrete pad within millimeters of a prescribed position. Image taken in December 2007. © ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)