The funding allowed about 30,000 academic staff and students to participate in the experiment.
Professor Peter Doel who was in charge of assembling DESI, said: “It’s been incredibly satisfying seeing the first images from DESI using the specialist equipment made in the UCL Optical Science Laboratory and we are looking forward to the survey officially starting early next year”
Professor Carlos Frenk from Durham University said: “The DESI project epitomises the best of modern science.
“It is designed to answer a fascinating question about the fundamental fabric of our universe: what is causing the cosmic expansion to speed up?
“It will collect 10 times more data on galaxies, quasars and stars in the Milky Way than humans have collected to date, stretching back to the early phases of our universe.
“Bringing together scientists from 13 countries, DESI shows how people from across the globe can come together to tackle key scientific questions.”
