AST Supported Programs for Astronomical Instrumentation Division of Astronomical Sciences Program Officers: Andrew Clegg, Jeff Pier, Gary Schmidt
Jan 03, 2016
AST Supported Programs for Astronomical Instrumentation
Division of Astronomical Sciences
Program Officers:Andrew Clegg, Jeff Pier, Gary Schmidt
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Instrumentation Programs
ATI (Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation)OIR, AO, Computing, Radio/sub-mm
MRI (Major Research Instrumentation)OIR, AO, Computing, Radio/sub-mm
TSIP (Telescope System Instrumentation Program)
ReSTAR (Renewing Small Telescopes for Astronomical Research)
Dormant during 2008-2010:
PREST (Program for Research and Education with Small Telescopes)
AODP (Adaptive Optics Development Program)
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Just one highlight…
672-actuator adaptive secondary for 8m LBT achieves Strehl ratio of 84% at 1.6 m with natural guide star
(funded from MRI/ATI)
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Advanced Technologies and Instrumentation (ATI)
• Funds development of hardware/software technologies with application to astronomy, or the use of existing technologies for new astronomical applications
• ATI budget ~$10M per year
• Panels based on proposal pressure (all wavelengths; hardware and computing; solar and night-time)
• Panel review plus written specialist reviews (4-6 total). Some co-reviewed with AAG.
• Annual deadline November 1
• Also rapid-response, exploratory (SGER/RAPID/EAGER; $200-300K max), supplement and REU Proposals
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Program Management
• Instrument Programs differ from regular AAG Awards
– Complex management to bring an instrument from design to commissioning
– Delays lead to no-cost extensions and/or supplementary funding
• POs attend technical meetings to track technological innovations
• Crossover and repetition of proposal submission to different programs
Award Size Average Maximum # Active Awards
ATI
$882,000
(up from $506,000 2005-07)
$2,200,000 ($7M
exception)~40
MRI $1,060,000 $5,044,000 ~15
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Cumulative ATI Funding FY08-FY10(Includes approx $10M ARRA FY09)
19,292,528
6,052,072
12,949,642
939,55289,507 317,309643,364
$0
$5,000,000
$10,000,000
$15,000,000
$20,000,000
OIRAORadio/sub-mmComputingMeetingSupplementEAGER/RAPID
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
ATI Proposal Trends FY08-FY10
22
5
10
2
12
3
18
5
8
3
14
6
21
5
15
2
15
3
15
13
19
0
5
10
15
20
25
2008 2009 2010 2011
OIR
OIR Funded
AO
AO Funded
Radio/sub-mm
Radio Funded
Success rates
2008 22.7%2009 33.5% (ARRA)2010 21.6%
3-yr rate: 26%
Nu
mbe
r of
pro
posa
ls
(Incl. ARRA)
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
ATI Funding Directions
• Optical/IR detectors, imagers, and spectrographs (15 awards)– Wide field imaging– Optical and Infrared detector development– Reflective and nonreflective coating development– High-resolution spectrographs (prim. exoplanets)– Polarimeters
• Adaptive Optics, LGS technology and applications (7 awards)– Visible light applications (including solar)– Laser Guide Star Constellations
• Radio and sub-mm (12 awards)– Cameras (Focal Plane Arrays, TES, MKID detectors)– High frequency coherent receiver array development– High-speed correlator architecture– CMB (esp. B-mode polarimeters) and EOR (typ. 21 cm)
• Many of the directions pioneered by ATI were strongly advocated by Astro2010, but further pursuit is beyond ATI’s scope (mid-scale).
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)
• Funds instrument development and acquisition proposals for research and research training
– NSF-wide program (run by OIA – the Office of Integrative Activities)– Institutions may only submit up to 3 MRI proposals across all NSF disciplines– AST related proposals are reviewed through AST– Maximum funding has varied between $2M and $6M in FYs 2008-2010– 30% Cost sharing required for PhD granting and non-degree granting institutions– MRI requires set-aside for non-PhD-granting and minority-serving educational
institutions
• AST shares in Foundation-wide funds based upon proposal pressure. – After Foundation set-aside for Large (<$1M) proposals, typically 40%
– And after Directorate set-aside for remaining large proposals and “horse-trading”
• Typically 1 or 2 panels convened covering all AST proposal disciplines
• Usually 2 or 3 additional ad hoc reviews obtained from specialists– Co-reviews with other divisions when necessary
• Solicitation announces the Annual deadline: (usually 4th Thursday in January)
• Crossover of proposal topics with ATI
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
Major Research Instrumentation (MRI)
Solicitation Awards Submitted % Success $M Awarded
2008 5 12 42 $3.8
2009-A 7 14 50 $6.0
2009-R^2 9 33 27 $12.5
2010 5 25 20 $5.2
Totals 26 84 31 $27.5
Some MRI Statistics 2008-2010:
Distribution Awards Percent $M Awarded $%
Comp* 2 8 0.5 2
OIR (AO) 17 (5) 65 (19) 17.3 (8.0) 63 (29)
Radio 7 27 9.7 35
Total 26 100 27.5 100
* Two major comp proposals ($1.5M + $2.3M) were co-reviewed by AST but funded elsewhere in FY10
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
MRI Funding Directions• Spectrographs/IFUs
– Precision RV calibration systems (Laser Frequency Combs)– Stable/precise spectrographs/coronographs for exoplanet
detection/characterization– Gratings (silicon immersion; Volume-Phase Holographic)– High Resolution IR Spectrographs
• Adaptive Optics– Lasers– Multiple Beam Launch Systems– Deformable mirrors with large number of elements
• Radio Telescope Instrumentation– Sub-mm cameras (TES, MKIDS)– Phased array feeds– CMB B mode polarization
• High Performance Computing Clusters
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
NOAO Managed Programs: (1)Telescope System Instrumentation Program (TSIP)
• Funding to develop new instrumentation, upgrade existing instruments for telescopes operated by non-federally-funded U.S. observatories with telescopes of 3-10m aperture.
• “system access” mechanism for direct exchange of telescope time for use by the community in exchange for operations funding.
• Proposals are solicited annually and are competitively reviewed. Review panel recommendations forwarded to AST for approval
• Awards made to– Keck– MMT– LBT– Magellan– WIYN (ODI)
• Funding Levels:– $32M over the past 9 years (FY02 FY10)– ($4M per year every year except that FY05 & FY06 were funded at $2M/yr)
Instrumentation AST CoV 2011Instrumentation AST CoV 2011
NOAO Managed Programs (2): Renewing Small Telescopes for Astronomical Research (ReSTAR)
• Funding for 2 5 meter telescope instrumentation (new or upgrades) in exchange for community access in response to the ReSTAR Report
• Can also fund direct exchange of telescope time
• First of three 3-phase proposals submitted FY08
• Each phase is for 3 years at approximately $10M
• Year 1 of Phase 1 awarded $3M (KOSMOS, Mosaic and Hydra upgrades, Hale telescope spectroscopic time)
• Year 2 awarded $3.9M (COSMOS and TripleSpec)
• Phase 2 solicitation released in December – inviting institutions to propose to partner with NOAO to develop/enhance capabilities that
– Are responsive to the ReSTAR report
– Balance System capabilities
AST Program Officer works closely with NOAO for both programs including attending the panel reviews and advising on funding decisions.