The Winer Observatory is a science organization focused on observing NEO's and is not geared for the design or fabrication of large projects, such as Project ASTEROID. This means that most of the detailed design and fabrication work for the project will be contracted out to vendors specializing in building 2-m class telescopes, large-format CCD imagers, and the complex systems to control them. At the outset, the problem confronting the Project Manager is how to structure this project to give it the highest probability of success - defined as completing the telescope within budget and on time - so that science operations can begin as soon as possible.
Telescopes of this size are not procured as off-the-shelf items. Instead, vendors adapt existing technologies and designs (and may develop new technologies and designs) to meet the requirements specified by the customer. To help speed delivery of the telescope, we will avoid new technologies and designs to the greatest extent possible. Nevertheless, we must specify the design and performance attributes of the telescope accurately and in a language that is understood by the vendors. We must then monitor the performance of vendors during the construction phase and subject completed equipment to performance testing before it is accepted.
The solution to this problem is to apply the formal techniques
of project management that are used in the astronomical community
for the development of telescopes and scientific instruments. The
techniques form a hierarchy (see Figure 1) that begins with the
science we wish to perform (Science Cases) and proceeds through
stages to translate the science into statements of:
From these, at the innermost level of the hierarchy, Procurement Specifications will be written that form the basis for contracts with vendors. The Design Phase ends with the signing of contracts with the selected vendors.
The Construction Phase begins with the manufacturing design and construction of equipment by vendors. We estimate that it will take about five years to complete the telescope, instrumentation, and control system; during this period, the progress of vendors will be monitored at periodic Status meetings. As equipment nears completion, formal Acceptance Testing will be conducted to assure that the equipment conforms with the procurement specifications. Pre-shipment testing is done at the vendor's facility and final acceptance testing is done following equipment installation at the Winer Observatory.
Science Cases
Science Requirements
Operations Concept Definition Document (OCDD)
Functional and Performance Requirements Document (FPRD)
Procurement Specifications
Construction and Acceptance Testing
Commissioning
System Verification
Beginning of Science Operations
Figure 1 Overview of the Project Management Process
When all major components (telescope, instrumentation, and control system) have been delivered, the completed telescope system will enter a Commissioning Phase lasting one year, in which these components are tested in an operational setting to characterize their performance in comparison to the Science Requirements. Changes may be made to the system at this stage if necessary to achieve the project's science goals. System Verification - in which normal operations are attempted with the telescope to demonstrate that it is ready to begin science operations - will be performed as the final step of the Commissioning Phase.
Figure 2 Project Schedule Summary Gantt Chart
Figure 2 shows the timeline for Project ASTEROID leading to Science Operations beginning seven years after the start of the project. To meet this schedule, the telescope design will rely on proven, commercialized technologies, and only experienced vendors with demonstrated success with telescopes of this size will be considered. Possible telescope vendors include DFM Engineering in Longmont, Colorado, EOS Technologies in Tucson, Arizona, and Astronomical Consultants & Equipment in Tucson. Imager vendors include Spectral Instruments in Tucson, Fairchild Imaging in Milpitas, California, and GL Scientific in Honolulu, Hawai'i. We will also consider having a proven university or observatory instrument group build the complete imager package, which includes the shutter, filter wheel, guider, Dewar holding the detector, and readout electronics.
Last modified: October 21, 2008.