Outlook for European role in the VSOP-2 mission

L.I. GurvitsJIVE, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands

VSOP-2 meetingPasadena, CA, USA, 2006.10.31-11.01

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

Space VLBI in Europe

• Strong interest in the community – endorsed by EVN CBD

• History of SVLBI studies/proposals (QUASAT, IVS)

• EVN participation in VSOP-HALCA • Three possible funding sources:

– ESA;– European Commission (EC Framework Programmes,

FP7: 2008-2012?);– National FunAgencies.

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

ESA Flexi 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.

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

EVN Flexi proposal 2000:

• State-of-the-art on-board science package devices:– Receiver(s) and/or their components (LNA,

cryogenics - based on Planck & Herschel technologies);

– H-maser or Rb frequency standard;• SVLBI2-compatible tracking station• European operational segment of SVLBI-2

mission in conjunction with the European Data Processing Facility

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025

• Cosmic Vision adopted by ESA as a roadmap for 2015-2025;

• Specifies themes, not missions;

• First call for Cosmic Vision mission expected to be released within month(s), €€€ tbd – delayed till Jan 2007;

• Strong planetary science proposals anticipated;

• Can VSOP-2 fit in? – unlikely…

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

VSOP-2 in Europe: justification for EC FP7

• EVN and RadioNet posses state-of-the-art know-how in Space science VLBI applications:– Several highly rated Space VLBI initiatives and pre-design

studies, 1984 – 2000;– Broad involvement of EVN observatories and Europe-

based users in VSOP;– Ultra-precise VLBI tracking of planetary missions (VEGA-

Giotto, Huygens, Smart-1).

• High degree of synergy with major developments in radio astronomy:– Next generation correlators, low-noise receivers, etc.;– “e-science” – e-VLBI, in particular;– LOFAR, ALMA, SKA – “software telescopes”.

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

VSOP-2 and EC FP7

• Relevant call for proposals expected in late 2007

• Proposal preparation has begun; internal peer-review in mid 2007;

• Joint Research Activity on SVLBI is on the list of topics to be pursued (LIG to coordinate);

• Networking Activity on SVLBI is in preparation too (A.Lobanov to coordinate);

• If approved, funding for 2008-2012

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

“ESA via National Agencies” route

• Unsolicited proposal(s) – favored by ESA• Funding at ~ € 20M scale• Coherent support by key national

delegations is crucial• Lobbing to start immediately• Updated Science Case is crucial !

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

VSOP-2 in Europe

• EVN Consortium Board of Directors keeps VSOP-2 on its agenda constantly; the next meeting in Dwingeloo, 29 Nov 2006

• EVN VSOP-2 Contact Group formed in 1999– to assist in preparation of the mission as agreed with ISAS/JAXA,– to act as a liaison between the mission and EVN users community

• Participation in development of some components of science payload is a possibility

• Tracking support from Yebes 14-m antenna: awaiting request and negotiations – more at this meeting

• ESA is kept informed on the (European) scientific community interest in the VSOP-2 mission

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

SVLBI payload components?

• Oscilloquartz crystal oscillator ?– Better than 10-13 over 30 s,– 135 x 83 x 75 mm, 900 g, 3 W,– Space qualification possible.

• 3D linear accelerometer:– Better than 0.5 nm/s2 (τ ~minutes).– Verified in several planetary

missions.

• Rx-components (Planck-based)

• Galileo Rx?

Phase-referencing options for VSOP-2

• Nodding of the main reflector, <30 s cycle (S/C) difficult• Sub-reflector nutation feasible?• In-beam phase-referencing wonderful, but

…• Dual-antenna S/C configuration beyond reach• Dual-feed configuration (a-la VERA) too complicated• Multi-feed array too big, too heavy• “Smart” multi-beam antenna technology?• Transformable off-axis antenna too complicated?

Orbit detrmination requirements for PR:imaging 2 mm rms @ 22 GHz (~lambda/7)astrometry 0.4 mm rms @ 22 GHz (~lambda/30)

Old “new” idea: a two-spacecraft mission easier to sell to the space agencies?easier to sell to the community? Slid

e of 2001

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

VSOP-2 and SKA

• Array configuration (orbital parameters) simulations

• Data flow/processing simulations

• Detectability and image quality simulations (SKA in a “global array” mode)

• Realistic radio sky (comppact sources) simulations

• Latest SKA news in Europe…

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

Astro-G on the SKA timeline

VSOP-2 launchVSOP-2 launch

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

European SVLBI-related news

• Next Generation VLBI correlator: pre-design “thinking” underway

• eVLBI EC FP6 project EXPReS funded; kick-off on 2006.11.03

• VLBI tracking of Huygens Titan Probe (Jan 2005), SMART-1 (May-Sep 2006)

• Cosmic Vision Call for Proposals expected to get strong response from planetary sci community; might include VLBI components

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

Open issues (in place of conclusions)

• What (from Europe) is needed to the mission?

• Is ESA willing to allow Astro-G into the Cosmic Vision process?

• Exploit benefits of VSOP-2 synergy with– EVN-2010 programme (incl Next Generation

Correlator);– EXPReS (e-VLBI) developments;– SKADS and SKA in FP7

• VSOP-2 in EC FP7• National funding sources

31 October 2006 LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA

Open issues (continued)

• Science case to be “sharpened”?• Phase-referencing to be emphasized!• Any chance to go for a higher data rate – 2, 4,

16 Gbit/s?• Any implications of a new (more powerful)

launcher?• Exploiting synergy with SKA developments• “Resolution-matching” (mm-VLBI) efforts