从KARST到FAST——中国天眼的概念起源与决策过程

From KARST to FAST:The Conceptual Origin of FAST and Its Decision-making Process

在大科学时代,大科学工程的建设日益复杂,设计者需综合考虑设备性能、技术储备、经费、风险、环境等因素才能进行合理决策.在国内外天文学发展的背景中,梳理了500 m口径球面射电望远镜(Five-hundredmeter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope, FAST)概念形成的过程以及FAST团队在其中所做的决策,包括大望远镜中国方案的设想、先导单元的提出、主动反射面技术的采用等,并对决策过程进行了分析探讨. FAST诞生于我国与国际天文学发展的互动与融合进程,实现了从跟进到占据先机的转变,可为在相关基础薄弱的领域建设大科学工程提供参考.

In the era of big science, the construction of large science projects is becoming more complex.Designers have to comprehensively consider factors such as instrument performance, technical reserves,funding, risks, and the environment to make a reasonable decision. On the basis of domestic and international astronomy, this paper sorts out the process of the formation of the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST) concept and the decisions made by the FAST team, including the Chinese concept of the large telescope, the proposal of the prototype, and the adoption of the active reflector,etc. We also discuss the process of decision-making. FAST was born in the process of interaction and integration between Chinese and international astronomy development, and realized the transformation from following up to taking the lead. It can provide a reference for constructing future large science projects with limited foundations in terms of technology and funding.