Science Operations Replan
NGAO - Meeting 6
D. Le Mignant
W. M. Keck Observatory
04/25/2007
Main points
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The Original Plan for Science Operations
Progress Update
Comment on the Work
What’s next: the replan
Priorities in the replan
Risk/challenges
2
The Original Plan
System Design Approach
System Engineering
Performance budget
Trade Studies
Observing Efficiency
Budget
100 hours
Observing Models
TS
80 hours
Science Operations
3.4: Science Ops
Functional rqts
670 hours
Rationales for Functional and Performance Requirements
Observatory Rqts
Science Operations
64 hours
Should be done easily… and in time!!
3
Progress Update
System Design Approach
System Engineering
Performance budget
Trade Studies
Observing Efficiency
Budget
Observing Models
TS: KAON 476
Science Operations
3.4: Science Ops
Functional Rqts
Main Drivers & Risk Areas
Current LGSAO Operations
Assessment Report: KAON 463
Rationales for Functional and Performance Requirements
Observatory Rqts
Science Operations
Observing Scenarios
Science
Requirements
4
Comments on the Work:
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The plan for the science operations was not interactive enough among
WBS.
– Should coordinate with other critically related WBS (e.g., Observing Scenarios)
– Many items in the SEMP, but can we deliver the right work?
– How much will we be able to iterate on the design?
•
Contributors were not able to commit significant effort and attention
– Not aware of the science case, science instrument and the literature on the
subject
– Contribution at best consisted in comments
– Finding compelling reviewers is difficult -> quality of report?
•
The work is more organic than expected.
– Observing Scenarios requirements don’t always translate into science operations
requirements (e.g., photometry reqts)
– Slower work than expected (“less earned value”), but significant progress in
building requirements for the science operations.
– The cost/benefit analysis is not an objective exercise: there are as many biases
as people, and less people could produce a greater risk for bias!
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What’s next: the replan
System Design Approach
System Engineering
Performance budget
Trade Studies
Observing Efficiency
Budget
Observing Models
TS: KAON 476
Science Operations
3.4: Science Ops
Functional Rqts
Main Drivers & Risk Areas
Current LGSAO Operations
Assessment Report: KAON 463
Rationales for Functional and Performance Requirements
??
??
??
Observatory Rqts
Science Operations
Observing Scenarios
Science
Requirements
6
Priorities in the replan
• Validate/discuss the Observing Model trade study with Keck directors.
– Large cost driver in the long term. More analysis required?
• Need to complete the Observing Scenarios and provide a version1 for
the flow of Science Operations Requirements
– Observatory Requirements for Operations
• Planning operation cost control in the long term
• Data quality, observing efficiency, science data products?
– Science Operations Functional Requirements
• Simulation tools, Observing tools, PSF reconstruction
• Is a list of functional requirements enough and should we need more details?
• Coordination with laser, AO and science instrument functional requirements
• Document the main drivers for the Observing Efficiency budget
• Telescope, AO, instrument overheads versus performance and cost
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Risk / challenges
• Encounter the same difficulties we have seen so far:
– Coordination among WBS, particularly for science operations (AO,
laser, Science instrument)
– Finding experienced scientists and engineers for reviews/discussion of
the documents
• Difficulty to provide a good estimate for the effort
– What is the work quality that needs to be provided: how accurate should
the study be?
– Not everything deserves the same priority and the same attention: how
do we take this into consideration?
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Science Operations Requirements
Mission for the science operations be to: maximize the scientific impact of the TAC
allocated observing time with the NGAO instruments from 2012 to 2020.
• Top-level goals from the science requirements:
1. Science-grade quality of the raw data (image quality per science requirements,
completeness of observations)
2. Science-grade quality of the data products (photometry, astrometry, PSF
knowledge, WCS calibrations)
3. Science impact from a given data product (number of publications and citations)
•
1.
2.
3.
Top-level goals from the observatory:
More than 80% of the time allocated is spent on collecting science-quality data.
The NGAO combined with its science instruments is facility-class instrument.
The Observatory is capable of supporting the equivalent of 240 nights/year for
NGAO science operations.
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