AHEADAHEAD

system design facility (SYSDEF)system design facility (SYSDEF)

LACK of flight opportunities is our LACK of flight opportunities is our MAJOR problemMAJOR problem

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Introduction Introduction

problemproblem• Important and challenging scienceImportant and challenging science• Significant technology developmentSignificant technology development• Small number of European flight opportunities by ESA or Small number of European flight opportunities by ESA or

clearly led by a single nation (also outside Europe but this is clearly led by a single nation (also outside Europe but this is not the issue)not the issue)

approachapproach• Increase flight opportunities (encourage collaborations in Increase flight opportunities (encourage collaborations in

Europe)Europe)• Be prepared to win competition with other fields with realistic Be prepared to win competition with other fields with realistic

mission proposals mission proposals

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SYSDEF: ideasSYSDEF: ideas

• Up to the community but could includeUp to the community but could include• Large area high time resolution instrumentLarge area high time resolution instrument• Full sky monitoring (Lobster)Full sky monitoring (Lobster)• PolarimeteryPolarimetery• InterferometryInterferometry• Scaled down version of EDGE (spectrometer with fast Scaled down version of EDGE (spectrometer with fast

repointing)repointing)• Gamma-ray imaging (DUAL)Gamma-ray imaging (DUAL)• Rocket/balloon experiments to validate technology and to Rocket/balloon experiments to validate technology and to

provide focus?provide focus?

• But some can possibly be more efficiently studied nationally But some can possibly be more efficiently studied nationally (which is fine as well)(which is fine as well)

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SYSDEF: conceptSYSDEF: concept

Project selectionProject selection• Input from the community (coordinated by JRA coordinator)Input from the community (coordinated by JRA coordinator)• Selection by steering group + JRA coordinatorSelection by steering group + JRA coordinator

Per selected projectPer selected project• Definition of science requirements (you)Definition of science requirements (you)• Conceptual design of the mission/instrument (you + Conceptual design of the mission/instrument (you +

industry)industry)• Trade-offs for key components/options (orbit, platform, …)Trade-offs for key components/options (orbit, platform, …)• System study/design (industry)System study/design (industry)• Report (project engineer)Report (project engineer)

Follow upFollow up• Community or ESA CV processCommunity or ESA CV process

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SYSDEF: team (it is all about money?)SYSDEF: team (it is all about money?)

• JRA coordinator (SRON) plus one full time project engineerJRA coordinator (SRON) plus one full time project engineer• Per study a small science team/experts defining payload and Per study a small science team/experts defining payload and

providing feedback (travel and part of the time funded through providing feedback (travel and part of the time funded through JRA)JRA)

• Per study one industry (more is too expensive). Thales-Alenia Per study one industry (more is too expensive). Thales-Alenia showed interest to participate on a 50-50% basis. No talks with showed interest to participate on a 50-50% basis. No talks with other industries so far.other industries so far.

• Full time project engineer responsible for generation of final Full time project engineer responsible for generation of final study outcome (a detailed PPT presentation and a SPIE-like study outcome (a detailed PPT presentation and a SPIE-like article)article)

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SYSDEF budgetSYSDEF budget

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SYStem DEfinition FacilitySYStem DEfinition Facility

ProPro• Possibility to include industry with own fundingPossibility to include industry with own funding• X-ray missions within ESA too few: collaborate as minor partner with X-ray missions within ESA too few: collaborate as minor partner with

JAXA/NASA or try to organize European collaborationsJAXA/NASA or try to organize European collaborations• Mission concepts even for two large space agencies too large (Simbol-Mission concepts even for two large space agencies too large (Simbol-

X), need to create multi-national involvementX), need to create multi-national involvement• Prepare for << M-class missionsPrepare for << M-class missions• Prepare for M-class ESA proposals CV2 (estimate is that there will be a Prepare for M-class ESA proposals CV2 (estimate is that there will be a

heavier emphasis on cost)heavier emphasis on cost)

Con/problemsCon/problems• Some agencies (CNES) have this capability themselvesSome agencies (CNES) have this capability themselves• Why can ESA not provide this service (in the past they did)?Why can ESA not provide this service (in the past they did)?• How select the projects?How select the projects?• How to judge the outcome if there is no expert team or if there are no How to judge the outcome if there is no expert team or if there are no

two competing industries?two competing industries?