69° and Light drizzle
Image
The Dunn Solar Telescope will be demolished by spring of 2027 and Sunspot Solar Observatory will be gone by Christmas 2027, the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Forest Service announced today.
NSF has also published an unredacted version of the “Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition” in awarding the demolition contract to Thornton Tomasetti.
The complete schedule for demolition is:
October–December, 2026: Scaffolding constructed around DST; removal of the concrete structure begins from the top down.
January–March 2027: Concrete and interior structures removed; DST demolition to ground level complete; site clean-up and demobilization. Procurement and Phase 1 task order award for Sacramento Peak site demolition. This matches the Sept. 23, 2026–March 23, 2027 time frame for the $10 million contract awarded last month to Thornton Tomasetti.
April–September 2027: Phase 1 implementation, “removing structures that have been unused for extended periods.” Phase 2 contract award.
October–December 2027: Phase 2 “will focus on removal of all other structures on site.”
Work begins with an assessment of other hazardous materials — asbestos, lead-based pain, lead-bearing plumbing, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) — that were common construction materials during the 1950s and ‘60s when Sunspot was built and expanded. NSF will work with the New Mexico Environment Department on removal and safe disposal.
“Where feasible, contractors will also work to identify instruments and equipment inside the telescope that can be safely retrieved and decontaminated for continued scientific or educational use,” the NSF stated. This is contrary to an earlier statement that no further instrument removal would be permitted.
ATN has asked NSF for clarification on which structures are involved in the two phases, and whether demolition includes the post office, which is privately owned even though it sits on Federal property, and the fire/EMS station, which belongs to Otero County.
Meanwhile, NSF continues discussions with the Apache Point Observatory about maintaining the water supply
On Sept. 29, NSF reposted the unredacted announcement of the demolition contract “for 30 days to correct inadvertent redactions in the previously posted version.” The major revelation was the estimated total value of $20 million. That is $6.7 million greater than the three awards made to date:
• Original award (3/23/2026,), $310,000, to assess the situation and later increased to $670,679 to cover purchase of long-lead items,• Second award (7/10/2026), $3, 071,489, to remove mercury, and• Third award (9/23/2026), 9,999,334, to demolish the Dunn.
Mike England, NSF head of media affairs, said that what appears to be three separate contracts are “are task orders issued against the same Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.” No extensions are planned. ATN has asked for clarification on why the estimated value in the initial posting is much higher than the awards posted to date.
This story will be updated when new information is available.
More News from Alamogordo
- NSF refuses historic listing for Sunspot NSF does not intend to pursue formal listing of the property on the National Register.
- PNM sale clears a hurdle as regulators pass on Zimmer stock probe Hearing examiners also let TXNM and Blackstone refile a sweetened $11.5 billion merger plan
