Folie 1 > SSSC/SITR Meeting, NASA-ARC > September 28/29, 2009 > D. Lilienthal

SSSC/SITR Meeting NASA-ARC, September 28/29, 2009

Dietmar Lilienthal, DLR

Folie 2 > SSSC/SITR Meeting, NASA-ARC > September 28/29, 2009 > D. Lilienthal

Status of DSI contract

● DSI-contract between DLR and University Stuttgart has been successfulnegotiated and finally signed end of April, 2009 Contract has been extended for additional four years (up to end of 2012)

● Selection of Observatory Deputy Director

Based on an announcement by University Stuttgart several candidates appliedfor the position as Observatory Deputy Director

The US-German Search Committee (nominated by SSC/SSPC) recommendedone of the candidates to NASA/DLRDLR followed the recommendation and encouraged the DSI to confirm theproposed candidate

The selection process at DSI is currently still ongoing (but close to completion)

Folie 3 > SSSC/SITR Meeting, NASA-ARC > September 28/29, 2009 > D. Lilienthal

Status of German Instruments & Teams (1)

Due to the project delays the German Instruments GREAT and FIFI-LS were

funded via additional DLR grants during transitory time from Jan 2008 – Dec 2009

(originally not foreseen in DLR`s medium-term funding budget)

Goals:

ensure availability of GREAT instrument team and Early Science deployment

(scheduled for first half of 2009).

Ditto for FIFI deployment, once anticipated for end of 09

GREAT Preship Review at MPIfR was successfully performed on Dec. 4/5, 2008;

FIFI-LS PSR was scheduled for mid 09.

Folie 4 > SSSC/SITR Meeting, NASA-ARC > September 28/29, 2009 > D. Lilienthal

Status of German Instruments & Teams (2)

Beginning 09 a general project delay was announced, which required adjustments of schedule for science flightsGREAT flights: postponed to fall 2010 – spring 2011FIFI-LS flights: postponed to mid 2011

Consequences: funding period for both instruments had to be extended for additional two years (term of validity is now up to Dec 2011)

Required additional funding comes from SOFIA budget reserves, resulting in reduced flexibility of DSI contributions Current concern due to recent schedule developments: Funding period might be not sufficient in particular for FIFI-LS. Hence additional money is absorbed by the instrument teams until first science data are acquired

Folie 5 > SSSC/SITR Meeting, NASA-ARC > September 28/29, 2009 > D. Lilienthal

Forthcoming Events

● Visit of NASA-HQ at DLR scheduled for Oct 15, 2009 to discuss and complete open points of JSPP II, and finally sign the document

● SSC/SSPC Meeting scheduled for Dec 3/4, 2009 @ DSI in Stuttgart, Germany