TOMORROW the world might find out whether South Africa will host what has been called "the world's biggest science project" - the Square Kilometre Array (SKA).

This is when SKA Organisation members will discuss the findings of a working group, tasked with investigating a "more inclusive" approach to the SKA.

South Africa is one of the two bidders - the other is Australia - to host the SKA, a project that could bring R23bn into the country.

But after site decision delays the SKA Organisation has hinted that a split hosting between Australia and South Africa would be possible. Once completed, the SKA, the world's largest radio telescope, will listen to signals from outer space and collect data for astronomy research.

The SKA will collect data that will give researchers information about the dawn of the universe, referred to as "The Big Bang".

The SKA will collect so much data in one day that it would take two million years to play back the data on an iPod.

SKA SA Project Director Dr Bernie Fanaroff explained last week what a split site would mean for the radio telescope.

"The most likely would be to put one of the three different arrays that make up the SKA in one country and the other two in the other country.

"The three arrays differ in the frequency bands they cover and the type of technology," Fanaroff said.

"Any such option considering a split site would have to show that it is not more expensive than a single site and does not decrease the amount of science the telescope can do," he said.

The ideal site would be one that is low on operating and infrastructure cost and is radio quiet, without interference from transmitters and electrical devices.

But Fanaroff said the desired outcome was still for the SKA to be built in Africa. If South Africa hosts the SKA will incorporate 3000 large dishes; 2000 covering the site in the Northern Cape and another 1000 spiralling up through Africa. South Africa's partnering nations in the African bid are Mozambique, Botswana, Namibia, Mauritius, Madagascar, Kenya and Ghana.

Head of Communications at the Department of Science and Technology, Tommy Makhode, last week said the SKA would encourage investments that can be utilised for human capital development.

"To date R50-million has been spent on the human capital development programme. From 2012 to 2017, R200-million more will be spent," said Makhode.

Makhode said an African SKA would make Africa an astronomy hub and allow the continent to develop and attract researchers from around the world.

"Expanding the number of scientists and technicians will allow South Africa and the rest of the continent to play an increasingly important role in the global knowledge economy. The location of a premier facility such as SKA will draw thousands of scientists to do research in Africa."

Nearly 400 SKA SA post-doctoral fellowship bursaries had been awarded since 2005 for students to study astronomy - with 24 PhD and 53 MSc students already having graduated.

The KAT-7 Array, a prototype version of the MeerKAT Array with seven dishes, is already operational. The MeerKAT project, South Africa's precursor to the SKA, comprises 64 dish radio telescopes, expected to be the biggest radio telescopes in the Southern Hemisphere and will still be built whether South Africa wins or loses the SKA bid.

Once a decision has been made on the hosting of the SKA, initial construction is set to begin in 2016 for the SKA to be operating fully in 2024.

SKA TIMELINE:

1991 Square Kilometre Array conceptualised

2006 Shortlisting of potential sites

2008-12 Design of telescope system and costs

2011 SKA organisation incorporated

2012 Selection of the site

2013-15 Design and pre-construction

2016-19 Construction Phase 1

2018-23 Construction Phase 2

2020 Full science operations Phase 1

2024 Full science operations Phase 2

Timeline provided by www.skatelescope.org