SSEC Agenda Suggestions

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SSEC Agenda Suggestions
Preparations for SSEC2at Cape TownBob
Preston
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SSEC Agenda Suggestions

• More time should be spent at SSEC meetings on
  crucial SKA issues
• Too large a fraction of time is spent on
  informational and administrative matters
• How about adding an additional discussion day
  before each meeting?
• SSEC members would feel development of the SKA
  was being examined and monitored in sufficient
  depth
• Too late to change usual 2-day meeting at Cape
  Town, but maybe larger fraction of agenda can be
  devoted to these issues
• Two possible focus issues for Cape Town meeting
• SKA-mid timeline
• SKA program structure

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SKA-mid Timeline Discussion

• Current SKA-mid timeline thought to be very
  optimistic by many SSEC members (although latest
  version is improved)
• Aggressive project schedules are usually good in
  the selling phase
• But unrealistic schedules can hurt a projects
  credibility
• Important to have solid international timeline
  for U.S. decadal survey
• SSEC discussion suggestion
• Lengthy session on SKA timeline at Cape Town
• Focus on items that limit progress irrespective
  of available funding
• Realistic funding constraints over time also
  important, so SSEC members should prepare
  prognosis for funding in their regions
• Compare to experience on other large scale
  projects
• Plan session months in advance so adequate
  preparation time
• Goal Generate consensus view of SKA timeline
  that entire SSEC could support

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Current SKA Timeline
Phase 1 funding approval
Phase 2 funding approval
SKA-midlow Complete
Site Select
Reference Design selected
Phase 1 complete
Preliminary SKA specs
Prod. Readiness Review
External Engineering Review of design
Sites short-listed
Early Science SKA midlow
SKA Operations
Pathfinder science
06 08 10 12 14 16 18 20
22 24
System Design
Full SKA mid low construction and commissioning
Concept Design
Phase 1 Prod. Eng. Tooling
Phase 1 Construction
SKA-high Construction
Pathfinder Suite Construction
System design SKA-hi
Concept design for SKA-high
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SSEC Discussion on SKA Program Structure

• There are many fundamental unresolved questions
  about the overall structure of SKA program
• Many such questions are not discussed often or
  deeply enough by SSEC
• Difficult for SSEC members to determine if SKA is
  on best development course
• SSEC discussion suggestion
• Lengthy session at Cape Town and all subsequent
  SSEC meetings on these topics
• A draft list of possible topics was already
  circulated to SSEC
• Decide on final list well before Cape Town to
  allow SSEC members, SPDO, and SWG sufficient time
  to develop supporting material
• Two options for Cape Town meeting (or combination
  of options)
• Brainstorming session on set of topics
• Frank discussion of various points of view (no
  public minutes)
• Reaching conclusions not critical - but should
  identify routes to reaching answers
• Focused discussion on one or more issues - with
  more in-depth preparation

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Examples of SKA Program Issues

• SKA-general
• What are the best estimates of funding source
  amounts, timing, and restrictions on use?
• What can be done to improve international
  cohesiveness of SKA program?
• Is the operational phase affordable?
• How do we achieve an open-sky policy?
• SKA-mid
• Will limits on funding and technology prevent
  transformational science?
• What is a realistic assessment of FOV expansion
  maturity and cost?
• Should SKA-mid be designed for targeted as well
  as survey investigations?
• Is Phase 1 sellable?
• SKA-low - What is the international SKA projects
  role?
• SKA-high
• What can be done to keep some focus on planning
  for this instrument?
• What is the process for identifying
  scientifically and politically viable sites?