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The NRAO Program Operating Plan

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The NRAO Program Operating Plan NATIONAL RADIO ASTRONOMY OBSERVATORY PROGRAM OPERATING PLAN FY 20 12 Associated Univ rsities. Inc. '>1> . r " " , " " , " r 'rr. '°S 9 g[[5 44 t " - , The NRAO Program Operating Plan FY 2012 Revised: March 2012 The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc. Table of Contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Overview ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Introduction to the Plan .............................................................................................................................. 3 1.2 Structure of the POP ................................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Financial and Budget Considerations ........................................................................................................ 4 2. Science Programs FY 2012 ...................................................................................................................... 6 3. Optimizing Science Impact: Observatory Science Operations ........................................................ 9 3.1 Shared Services .............................................................................................................................................. 9 3.2 Facility-based Activities .............................................................................................................................. 13 3.3 Training the Next Generation ................................................................................................................. 15 4. Engines of Exploration: Observatory Telescope/Array Operations ........................................... 19 4.1 Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array Construction Project ......................................... 19 4.2 Expanded Very Large Array ..................................................................................................................... 22 4.3 Very Long Baseline Array .......................................................................................................................... 26 4.4 Green Bank Telescope .............................................................................................................................. 30 5. Toward Future Discoveries: Observatory Development and Programs ................................... 35 5.1 Coordinated Development Laboratory ................................................................................................. 35 5.2 Key Partnerships: New Initiatives Office ............................................................................................... 38 6. Broader Impacts: Radio Astronomy and Society ............................................................................. 43 6.1 Education and Public Outreach ............................................................................................................... 43 6.2 Diversity ........................................................................................................................................................ 49 7. Efficient Operations: Administration and Services .......................................................................... 51 7.1 Director’s Office ......................................................................................................................................... 51 7.2 Observatory Administrative Services ..................................................................................................... 54 Appendix A: Major Milestones and Functional Tasks ............................................................................ 64 Appendix B: Preliminary Financial Plan & Work Breakdown Structure ............................................ 70 Appendix C: FY 2011 Annual Progress Summary .................................................................................. 73 Appendix D: FY 2012 NRAO Infrastructure Maintenance and Renewal.......................................... 88 Appendix E: Senior Management Staff ...................................................................................................... 92 Appendix F: Science Staff ............................................................................................................................. 93 Appendix G: Committees ............................................................................................................................ 99 Appendix H: Acronyms .............................................................................................................................. 102 Executive Summary In FY 2012, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) will deliver transformational scientific capabilities and operate a suite of four world-class telescopes that will enable the astronomy community to make significant progress on the fundamental astrophysical questions and themes described in the Astro2010 Decadal Survey report, New Worlds, New Horizons in Astronomy and Astrophysics (NWNH). Each of the research facilities in the NRAO telescope suite is the world leader in its observing domain: the international Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), the Expanded Very Large Array (EVLA), the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT), and the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). Observatory Science Operations (OSO) will coordinate the collective efforts of the three NRAO science centers: the Array Science Center (ASC) in Socorro, New Mexico; the North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC) in Charlottesville, Virginia; and Green Bank Science Operations (GBSO) in Green Bank, West Virginia (WV). Throughout FY 2012, OSO will create and implement an increasingly unified and integrated suite of services that enable the NRAO user community to access and employ tools more effectively to prepare observing proposals and observations, interface with NRAO staff, and access and process their data. In addition to on-going scientific user support for all NRAO facilities, OSO will provide a large number of enhancements to services and programs in FY 2012, including cross-training all Observatory data analysts in helpdesk support, incorporating access to ALMA services into the NRAO user portal, mirroring ALMA Early Science data to the NAASC, and mirroring EVLA Early Science data to the Charlottesville archive, among many other specific deliverables. North American ALMA personnel will be heavily engaged in assembly, integration, verification, and commissioning activities as the NA ALMA construction project completes its delivery of components by the end of FY 2012. The steady production and delivery to Chile of antennas and Front Ends will continue throughout the year, as will construction and installation of electrical power infrastructure. The final quadrant of the correlator will be installed in Chile. FY 2012 will also see the initiation of ALMA Early Science, a highly anticipated event across the international community. The NAASC will strongly support the user community in their exploration of the exciting FY 2012 Early Science opportunities, offering expert assistance with proposal and observing preparation, data acquisition, reduction, and analysis. NAASC scientists will develop and test simulations and software tools, and organize user tutorials and community workshops. NAASC staff rotations to Chile will support collaboration with the Joint ALMA Observatory in commissioning, and will provide NAASC staff with extensive ALMA science data experience. The EVLA will also balance Early Science with the completion of construction and ongoing commissioning. By the end of 2012, EVLA construction and the transition to full science operations as the world’s most capable and versatile centimeter-wave imaging array will be complete. The EVLA Open Shared Risk Observing (OSRO) Early Science program will continue in FY 2012 to provide the general user community with telescope access; the Resident Shared Risk Observing (RSRO) program will continue to offer more advanced capabilities to those who can help with the EVLA commissioning effort in Socorro. The capabilities supported by these programs will increase during FY 2012 as the EVLA data rates and dataset sizes dramatically increase. Specific capabilities that users will see during FY 2012 include correlator sub-array and phased array modes, and the full 8 GHz bandwidth mode observing mode. VLBA operations will emphasize Key Science Projects, especially those making use of its unique astrometric capabilities. The final components of the long-term Sensitivity Upgrade project will be NRAO | FY 2012 Program Operating Plan 1 installed at all VLBA stations in FY 2012, and new wideband 4-8 GHz receivers will provide improved sensitivity and access to the scientifically important 6.7 GHz methanol spectral line. The NRAO operations partnership with the U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) will begin in FY 2012, providing the USNO with daily VLBA access and mission support. The NRAO will actively manage and expand the partnerships required to sustain the scientific operation and unique technical capabilities of the VLBA. The GBT will offer the community robust single dish operation in FY 2012 from meter
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