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USGP Update(1Mar95)
(from USGP, NOAO Newsletter No. 41, 1 March 1995)

             Mid-Infrared Imager Announcement of Opportunity

Design and fabrication of the 10-30 um Imager, destined for shared use on
the Gemini Mauna Kea and Cerro Pachon telescopes, was allocated to the
United States in the international distribution of instrumentation to the
Gemini partners. The USGP, currently in the process of defining a
procurement plan for this instrument, expects that the supplier will be
selected through an open competition. All institutions potentially interested in
this opportunity should contact the USGP immediately to obtain further
information.

                    Search for Gemini Project Scientist

An international Search Committee has been formed to lead the effort in
filling the position of Gemini Project Scientist.  The committee is chaired by
Gordon Walker, the Canadian Gemini Project Scientist.  This position is a
key position in the international Gemini Project and reports to the Gemini
Project Director.  US astronomers are encouraged to communicate with the
following US members of the Search Committee for information:

Jay Gallagher (Wisconsin),
Jerry Nelson (Lick Observatory),
Mike Werner (JPL).

                         Project Systems Review

The Gemini Project will be holding its second Systems Review in Tucson,
6th and 7th of March. The purpose of the Review is to obtain an independent
assessment of the entire system with an emphasis on the interfaces of the
various subsystems. The topic of emphasis at this review will be the primary
mirror assembly. Attendance at the Review is open to interested members of
the astronomical community by contacting the USGP for an invitation.

                    International Operations Workshop

Planning is underway to organize an international workshop on innovative
observing modes. This workshop will feature presentations, poster papers and
working groups to discuss non-traditional observing modes, including remote
and queue-scheduled observing. The workshop is provisionally scheduled to
be held in Hilo, Hawaii on 6-8 July. If you have an interest in attending the
workshop contact Todd Boroson. The USGP has very limited funding
available for partial travel assistance to participants from the United States.

                       New US Gemini Board Member

Peter Conti (JILA) is completing a three year term as one of the original US
Gemini Board Members. His guidance and support was greatly appreciated
during the crucial formative years of the Project.

Robert Kirshner (Harvard) will fill the vacancy but is not new to Gemini as
he has recently chaired the AURA Oversight Committee - Gemini. He joins
Gemini Board members, Ian Corbett (UK), Alan Dressler (Carnegie
Observatories), Jim Houck (Cornell), Malcolm Longair, Chair (UK), Bob
McLaren (U. of Hawaii), Donald Morton (Canada), Wayne van Citters
(National Science Foundation), Gordon Walker (Canada), Juan Forte
(Argentina), Claudio Anguita (Chile), and Joao Steiner (Brazil).

                         Adaptive Optics Workshop

The USGP has asked Steve Ridgway (NOAO) to Chair an Adaptive Optics
Workshop to consider a future, second generation, adaptive optics program
for Gemini. The Gemini Telescope sited on Mauna Kea will employ a first
generation adaptive optics design utilizing natural guide stars to enhance
image quality. This first generation adaptive optics system, to be designed
and built as a Canadian workpackage, will undergo a conceptual design
review in March.

The AO Workshop, scheduled for late March, will explore the current status
and future plans of AO technology development in the US with an eye on
what is likely to be the state of the art in the year 2000 and what will best
enhance the Gemini telescope capabilities. The program for a second
generation AO system, utilizing a laser beacon approach, is generally
considered to be a high scientific priority but is not currently defined or
funded.

                      US Science Advisory Committee

The next meeting of the US SAC is scheduled for 20 and 21 April
immediately prior to the international GSC meeting on 24 and 25 April. The
US SAC previews material presented to the GSC to broaden the US voice in
the GSC. The US SAC will review the reports of the Instrument and
Operations Science Working Groups and the results of the mirror coating and
surface heating studies in advance of the Coating Plant Critical Design
Review in late April.

The current membership of the US Science Advisory Committee is: Todd
Boroson - Chair, Eric Becklin (UCLA), Charles Beichman (IPAC), Jay
Gallagher (Wisconsin), Bob Gehrz (Minnesota), John Huchra (Harvard/CfA),
Frank Low (Arizona), Gerry Neugebauer (Caltech.), Pat Osmer (Ohio State),
Steve Ridgway (NOAO), Paul Schechter (MIT), Steve Strom
(Massachusetts), Charles Telesco (Florida), and Alistair Walker/Bob
Schommer (NOAO/CTIO). Those US SAC members who are also GSC
members are Boroson, Beichman, Gallagher, Gehrz and two new members to
fill the vacancies left by Fred Gillett, who is now Chair of the GSC as
interim Gemini Project Scientist, and Alan Dressler, who recently became a
Gemini Board Member.

                            Communications

At the January, 1995 AAS meeting in Tucson, the USGP held a town
meeting and invited the US astronomy community to hear plans for Gemini
and to give the USGP comments and ask questions concerning these plans.
Approximately 300 members of the US community heard presentations by
Matt Mountain, Fred Gillett and Todd Boroson, and Hugh Van Horn
moderated a Q&A session. These questions/answers and a copy of the
comment sheet distributed for providing written feedback to us on any
Gemini topic are available on the USGP World Wide Web address:
http://www.noao.edu/usgp/usgp.html

If your institution, symposium or conference is interested in a speaker to talk
about Gemini, please let us know. Internet e-mail address:  usgp@noao.edu.

                    USGP Staff Expands and Contracts

Mark Trueblood has recently joined the small but dynamic ranks of the US
Gemini Program office as a Project Engineer to assist in the procurement and
management of the US-allocated instruments and in advocating US technical
interests. Trueblood has a degree in Astronomy and has contributed to the
data management software designs for Space Telescope and most recently at
NOAO for the GONG Project.

Fred Gillett is now "on loan" to the international Gemini Project to assume
interim responsibilities as Project Scientist, the position made vacant when
Matt Mountain was appointed Gemini Project Director.

                           Gemini Newsletter

The quarterly Gemini Newsletter which normally accompanies the NOAO
Newsletter will be distributed twice a year in June and December. The USGP
column in the NOAO Newsletter will summarize Project highlights in March
and September.

                          Gemini Project Status

The Project continues to make headway in all areas, primarily in negotiating
contracts for fabrication and construction.

Telescope. Contracts are still in negotiation for the telescope structures and
azimuth tracks for both telescopes.

Optics. The contract for the secondary mirror fast articulation mechanism has
been negotiated and is awaiting final approval. The Request for Proposals to
provide the secondary mirrors has been released and bids were received in
February.

Enclosure and Site Facilities. The bids to construct the Mauna Kea support
facility and site excavation were received, and the process was halted due to
high bid costs. Some design changes were effected which are expected to
reduce construction costs, the construction work packages were divided to
increase the number of available bidders, and the invitation for bids on the
first rebid package was issued in January. Those changes include reducing
the support facility to a one story building, thereby reducing excavation
costs, and offering an option to delay construction of the northern ventilation
tunnel. The Mauna Kea site preparation work to relocate the road and
utilities was begun in October but was cut short in November due to an
early, heavy snow. Site work was resumed in January and will proceed,
weather permitting. Site work proceeds on schedule at Cerro Pachon.

Instrumentation. The IR Spectrograph bids were received, evaluated by an
independent, NSF-appointed committee, and a supplier selected for
negotiation. The near-IR Imager will be having a Conceptual Design Review
in mid-March. The mid-IR Imager is in the announcement of opportunity
stage. The MultiObject Spectrograph will have a conceptual design review in
early June.

           Gemini Instrument and Operations Science Working Groups

Initially, the scientific and functional requirements for the Gemini
instrumentation were defined by a number of instrument working groups,
appointed by the international Gemini Science Committee, composed of
individuals from the Gemini partner countries. Subsequently, the instrument
complement and the science requirements of those instruments were refined
by the GSC and approved by the Gemini Board of Directors. About one year
ago, the Gemini Project established Instrument Science Working Groups,
which meet semiannually to provide a scientific assessment and
recommendations in the areas of optical instrumentation, infrared
instrumentation, and adaptive optics/acquisition and guiding. In addition, a
new Operations Science Working Group has been formed with a similar
charter to assess and advise the Project on scientific aspects of operations.
The membership of these committees includes scientific representatives from
the instrument suppliers, Project and National Project Scientists,
representatives from the international project, and the following independent
members:

                  Optical Instruments Science Working Group:

G. Walker (Canadian Project Office) - Chair
T. Armandroff (NOAO), G. Lupio (Hawaii)
and R. Schommer (NOAO).

                  Infrared Instruments Science Working Group:

F. Gillett (Gemini Project) - Chair,
T. Geballe (JAC), P. Puxley (ROE),
P. Roche (Oxford),and T. Soifer (Caltech).

                       AO/A&G Science Working Group:

D. Simons (Gemini Project) - Chair,
B. Ellerbroek (SOR/USAF),
D. Monet (USNO), and R. Myers (Durham).

                    Operations Science Working Group:

T. Boroson (USGPO) - Chair,
F. Chaffee (MMTO), T. Davidge (DAO),
M. Edmunds (Cardiff), B. Gillespie (ARC),
R. McLaren (Hawaii), S. Strom (Massachusetts).

Kathy Wood, Todd Boroson

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