The US Gemini Program has agreed to manage the procurement of the initial Gemini IR instruments as a package for the International Gemini Project. Thus, we are not only monitoring progress on each subsystem, but we are also ensuring that interfaces are identified and defined so that integration will go smoothly. Here is a brief description of the status of each US allocated instrument.
Near-IR Imager
The 1-5 
m imager will be used to commission the first Gemini telescope,
on Mauna Kea. It is being built by the Institute of Astronomy at the
University of Hawaii in Manoa. Klaus Hodapp is the scientific and
technical leader of this effort. The imager has an approved conceptual
design. Work is proceeding toward a preliminary design review in late
June. Look for a technical description of this instrument in the next
Newsletter.
Near-IR Spectrograph
The 1-5 
m spectrograph is being built by the Instrument Projects Group
at NOAO in Tucson. Dan Vukobratavich is the project engineer and Jay
Elias (CTIO) is having an extended stay in Tucson as instrument project
scientist. The spectrograph successfully passed its conceptual design
review in late March. (See the following article by Jay Elias for a
technical description of the instrument.) Design work is proceeding
toward the next major milestone, a preliminary design review near the
end of the year.
Near-IR Arrays and Controllers
To assure commonality among the near-IR instruments, the detectors and controllers have been separated from the instrument efforts. The arrays will be the next generation of ALADDIN arrays, being developed at SBRC in a collaborative program involving NOAO and the US Naval Observatory. The USGP is working with NOAO to define a foundry program at SBRC aimed at delivering engineering and science-grade arrays for the Near-IR Imager and Spectrograph. Because the arrays are still under development, the International Gemini Project and the USGP have agreed that using NOAO array controllers represent the only viable approach with acceptably low technical and schedule risk. The instrument builders have concurred with this view. The USGP's intent is to deliver a stand-alone controller-array system to the Near-IR Imager team.
Mid-IR Imager
After many announcements of upcoming activity, this procurement is finally under way. The process will be divided into two parts, a Phase A program aimed at producing one or more conceptual designs and an independent Phase B program to finalize the design and fabricate the instrument. At the time of writing, the RFP for the Phase A studies is in the approval cycle and should be released to the community within two weeks. NOAO will not bid for this instrument.
The RFP for the Phase A study will be publicly available following the receipt of proposals on 5 June. The RFP contains technical information which should be of interest to those persons who are considering proposing for the Phase B contract. Please submit your request for a copy of the Phase A RFP to Kathy Wood, internet wood@noao.edu or phone (520) 318-8175.
CCDs and Controllers
The USGP has formed an international consortium to assist with the evaluation of options for the CCD detectors for Gemini. US members of this consortium include Gerry Luppino (Hawaii), Chris Stubbs (Washington), Mike Lesser (Arizona), John Geary (Smithsonian Astrophysical Obs.), and Todd Boroson (USGP). Over the next six months this group will review progress on the development of thinned 2048 x 4096 CCDs, which is ongoing at a number of potential vendors. The CCD controllers have been a Chilean workpackage, but the IGP is interested in investigating the possibility of bundling them with the CCD detectors as a US workpackage, and has asked the USGP to develop a procurement plan.
Help Define the Next-Generation Gemini Instruments!
The International Gemini Observatory will have an ongoing instrument development fund in the operations phase. A Phase 2 instrumentation program will be developed by combining national and international definition processes. In the US, this will likely take the form of a call for a discussion of the interests and priorities of the US community on the NOAO electronic forum, which would be followed by a meeting of scientists representing the breadth of scientific interests of the US community. We are in the process of working out a detailed plan. Watch the USGP Web site for further information.
Todd Boroson