Goals

• SKA is an umbrella program for cm/m wave instrument and telescope development over the next 25 years; this ultimately may result in several telescopes under the SKA Program.
• The primary instrument to be proposed to the next decadal survey represents the "SKA-mid" science, nominally the Radio Synoptic Survey Telescope. NRAO will play a significant role in drafting the decadal case, including development of engineering design and cost estimates, with the instrument to be built in Australia or South Africa. Decadal proposal will include a funding request that may amount to less than 1/3 the total cost of SKA-mid. Open skies will be required, and include the assumption that US may contribute more than 1/3 to SKA-high. The exact staging of the full SKA-mid vs. the Phase I (~10%) SKA-mid will be determined as part of the proposal preparation.
• NRAO separately will participate in a plan to develop technology for the high-frequency SKA in the next decade, and will exploit our new telescopes as scientific pathfinders for SKA-high. The goal of this plan will be to be prepared to propose SKA-high to the 2020 decadal survey, not necessarily at the same site as SKA-mid, and perhaps as a build-out from EVLA.
• NRAO will seek opportunities for technical collaborations (including hardware, software, data-handling, algorithms, etc.) that advance the above goals. These technical collaborations may include, but are not limited to, TDP and PrepSKA.

Membership

• Bryan Butler, member of International Science Working Group
• Chris Carilli, former International SKA Project Scientist
• Bill Cotton, member of International Simulations Working Group
• Rick Fisher, head of NRAO Research and Development
• Ken Kellermann, chair of International Operations Working Group, vice-chair of International SKA Steering Committee, NRAO representative to US SKA Consortium
• Steve Myers, member of US SKA Decadal Survey Group
• Roger Norrod, US Technology Development Program participant
• Rick Perley, EVLA Project Scientist
• Scott Ransom, member of International Science Working Group
• Dick Thompson, member of International Engineering Working Group
• Jim Ulvestad, member of International SKA Steering Committee, NRAO representative to US SKA Consortium
• Craig Walker, member of International Simulations Working Group

Meeting Minutes

• September 24, 2007