The GTC project. Present and future

The GTC (Gran Telescopio Canarias) Project, a 10 meter segmented telescope to be installed at the ORM in La Palma, Spain, is moving forward at full steam. Main science drivers for the GTC are image quality, operational efficiency and reliability. First light is planned for end-2002. The GTC Project, initiated in 1996, is progressing well on schedule and budget and its construction has started in October 1999 with groundbreaking. All major contracts have by now been awarded. Three science instruments have been approved for phase a studies, representing a wavelength coverage from the optical-UV to the mid infrared, in imaging, and multiobject low resolution spectroscopy. P.I. teams from Spain, France, Mexico, the U.K, and the USA are participating in the preliminary design of the Instruments. The future operation and maintenance of the GTC is being studied and discussed within the PO and the astronomical community. The GTC Project Board has recently approved plans for after Day One. These include the development of new instruments and upgrades for the GTC plus an Adaptive Optics Program. The current status of the project and immediate plans are presented here.