Leonid Leonid GurvitsGurvits((lgurvits@jive.nllgurvits@jive.nl))

Joint Institute for VLBI in EuropeJoint Institute for VLBI in EuropeDwingelooDwingeloo, The Netherlands, The Netherlands

VSOPVSOP--2/Astro2/Astro--G in G in European perspectiveEuropean perspective

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

Preface Preface

• Let’s take off rosy glasses…

• KSP or not? (KSP = Club of Student Songs…)

• General philosophy [of EVN]: skies remain wide open…

• Science case (with or without KSP’s) must be strong!

• Wide community appeal is essential• Science Vision of European Astronomy, Liverpool, June 2008

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

SVLBI in Europe before VSOP/HALCASVLBI in Europe before VSOP/HALCA

• ESA QUASAT proposal, 1981-85:• Large international team of VLBIers faced competition on Space Science

arena for the first time (and lost to … Huygens!)• Need for a multi-disciplinary (cross-domain) science case• Need for key technology demonstrations

• European involvement in RadioAstron, 1985-2003

• ESA IVS proposal, 1987-90:• Need for early formation of major international partnerships

• “Transfer” of some ideas and expertise to VSOP/Muses-B:• Science case• Simulations (orbital parameters, network configurations)• Management (“ISC”)

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

ESA Flexi VSOPESA Flexi VSOP--2 proposal, 20002 proposal, 2000

• ESA “Enhanced Next Generation Radio Observatory in Space” (EVN F2/F3 proposal, 2000)

• ESA Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) citatation:

The SSAC recognises the high level of European interest in Space VLBI, which provides uniquely high spatial resolution. There is currently no approved international space VLBI mission to follow on from the Japanese VSOP (HALCA) mission. If one should be identified in the future, the SSAC recommends that an ESA involvement be considered.

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

PostPost--HALCA SVLBI activities in EuropeHALCA SVLBI activities in Europe

• ESA “Flexi” proposal 2000• Excellent outcome but …• Difficulties of fitting in a “segment” of VSOP-2 into the

ESA project structure:• Too small for a “normal” M-class mission (~ € 350M)

• Recall the “advice” by ESA HQ to participate in the Cosmic Vision 2007…• Too big for a General Study project (~ € 1M)• Unusual for space agencies combination of “open skies” policies

(open access to the mission resources by a world-wide science community) and multiple links/commitments between international partners

• And as usual, misperception of radio astronomy as Earth-bound affair

• Role of VISC-2 is important• Public outreach issues – important!

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

VSOPVSOP--2/Astro2/Astro--G arrives in EuropeG arrives in Europe

European VSOP-2/Astro-G kick-off meeting,JIVE, Dwingeloo, 15 June 2006:22 participants representing 14 institutes fromJapan and 8 European countries (and four your lecturers among them…)

Outlook for European role in the VSOP-2 mission

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

ESA NationallyESA Nationally--led proposal (unsolicited)led proposal (unsolicited)

• Expecting a similar letter in June 2008, deadline ~09.2008• Science case + management + programmatic + …• TRL (Technical Readiness Level) might play a role• Support by Spanish, Dutch, German delegations

promised• “Industrial” benefits for Europe might play a role

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

Status of VSOPStatus of VSOP--2/Astro2/Astro--G activities in EuropeG activities in Europe

• Preparation of nationally-led proposal in final stages• Includes:

• European Astro-G tracking and data acquisition station (Yebes, Spain)• Space-VLBI-specific upgrade of the EVN Data Processor (Correlator)• VSOP-2 EVN operations (incl. operational software upgrade)

• EVN Board of Directors endorsed EVN involvement in Astro-G/VSOP-2 mission (April 2008) – see talk by R.Bachiller 16.05.2008

• Discussion on European role in VSOP-2 Key Science Programmes (KSP)

• Science meeting at MPIfR, Bonn, Germany, 14-16 May 2008• Anticipation of broad (global) coordination role by

VISC-2• Synergic European-Japanese-Chinese activity on VLBI

experiments with BepiColombo MMO (MoU of 2008)

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

A European VSOPA European VSOP--2 tracking station 2 tracking station

Yebes 14-m antenna

VSOP-2 Tracking mtg,Madrid/Yebes, Feb 2007

VSOP-2 tracking dry run,Madrid, Feb 2008

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

Ground tracking station coverageGround tracking station coverage

• Coverage•Three tracking station :

• Usuda• Yebes• Canberra• [Greenbank]

•EL > 10 deg ⇒ final tracking station locations are still under discussion

• Around perigee•Down link constraint (Hsat < 5000km)

• Signal level should be lower than the defined value (PFD limit)

• Slew speed limit of the onboard link antenna

• Slew speed limit of the ground tracking antenna

• Rate window of the correlation⇒Observable time : ~6.5hr

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Presentation by N. Mochizuki, this mtg

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

EVN Data Processor at JIVE and VSOPEVN Data Processor at JIVE and VSOP--22• “JIVE correlator” is in fact “EVN Data Processor”, an EVN facility

• All [EVN] operations/access policies apply

• In principle, almost compatible with VSOP-2 specs as of May 2008• 1 Gbps/station operational routinely• Mk5A (and B) is (can be) supported; Mk5C is likely to follow• e-VLBI (real-time) enabled; “buffering-at-correlator” is under consideration• SVLBI specs (channelisation, delay, delay-rate, output data rate) OK

• BUT• Interface with OD/Navigation absent• [Mild] modifications of on-line software needed• SVLBI-specific work-load (manpower, ops cost) an issue

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

JIVE and VSOPJIVE and VSOP--2 in 2012 and beyond2 in 2012 and beyondEVN Data Processor at JIVE:EVN Data Processor at JIVE:• Will not go down in terms of major specs (data rate etc.)• Technical compatibility with VSOP-2 will be preserved• SVLBI-specific upgrade MUST rely on external funding• What will be “JIVE Correlator” in 2012 is still an open question

and in addition:and in addition:

• JIVE is interested/available to support relevant VSOG activities;• Serve as a regional support national/regional user support centre

(e.g. via analogs of EC FP TNA)• Assist to the mission as an informal “liaison” to ESA

LIG Bonn, 15.05.2008

VSOPVSOP--HALCA in Europe: lessons learnedHALCA in Europe: lessons learned

• EVN as an operational element of VSOP• Guaranteed “mission support” time not needed?• “Announcement of Opportunity” and “Call for Proposals” are needed!• Proposals science review and time allocation, SRC vs EVN PC• Data management (archiving?)

• Role of GVWG• Formed in 1990 under URSI (Prague, 1990) and IAU auspices• First formal meeting, Onsala, May 1993:

• Coordination of global network time allocation for SVLBI• VLBI media formats and compatibility• Mixed feelings about GVWG over the last 6 years…

• Need for VSOP Science Legacy – the role of the 2007 Science Symposium?

• VSOP/HALCA web data-base linked to e.g. NED?