The LSST was the top-ranked large ground-based project in the 2010 Astrophysics Decadal Survey. The project officially began construction 1 August 2014 when the National Science Foundation (NSF) authorized the FY2014 portion ($27.5 million) of its construction budget.[15] The ceremonial laying of the first stone was performed on 14 April 2015.[16] Site construction began on April 14, 2015,[17] with engineering first light anticipated in 2019, science first light in 2021, and full operations for a ten-year survey commencing in January 2022.[18][19]