1. AHEAD system design facility (SYSDEF) LACK of flight opportunities is our MAJOR problem

2. 2 Introduction problem Important and challenging science Important and challenging science Significant technology development Significant technology development Small number of European flight opportunities by ESA or clearly led by a single nation (also outside Europe but this is not the issue) Small number of European flight opportunities by ESA or clearly led by a single nation (also outside Europe but this is not the issue)approach Increase flight opportunities (encourage collaborations in Europe) Increase flight opportunities (encourage collaborations in Europe) Be prepared to win competition with other fields with realistic mission proposals Be prepared to win competition with other fields with realistic mission proposals

3. 3 SYSDEF: ideas Up to the community but could include Up to the community but could include Large area high time resolution instrument Large area high time resolution instrument Full sky monitoring (Lobster) Full sky monitoring (Lobster) Polarimetery Polarimetery Interferometry Interferometry Scaled down version of EDGE (spectrometer with fast repointing) Scaled down version of EDGE (spectrometer with fast repointing) Gamma-ray imaging (DUAL) Gamma-ray imaging (DUAL) Rocket/balloon experiments to validate technology and to provide focus? Rocket/balloon experiments to validate technology and to provide focus? But some can possibly be more efficiently studied nationally (which is fine as well) But some can possibly be more efficiently studied nationally (which is fine as well)

4. 4 SYSDEF: concept Project selection Input from the community (coordinated by JRA coordinator) Input from the community (coordinated by JRA coordinator) Selection by steering group + JRA coordinator Selection by steering group + JRA coordinator Per selected project Definition of science requirements (you) Definition of science requirements (you) Conceptual design of the mission/instrument (you + industry) Conceptual design of the mission/instrument (you + industry) Trade-offs for key components/options (orbit, platform, …) Trade-offs for key components/options (orbit, platform, …) System study/design (industry) System study/design (industry) Report (project engineer) Report (project engineer) Follow up Community or ESA CV process Community or ESA CV process

5. 5 SYSDEF: team (it is all about money?) JRA coordinator (SRON) plus one full time project engineer JRA coordinator (SRON) plus one full time project engineer Per study a small science team/experts defining payload and providing feedback (travel and part of the time funded through JRA) Per study a small science team/experts defining payload and providing feedback (travel and part of the time funded through JRA) Per study one industry (more is too expensive). Thales-Alenia showed interest to participate on a 50-50% basis. No talks with other industries so far. Per study one industry (more is too expensive). Thales-Alenia showed interest to participate on a 50-50% basis. No talks with other industries so far. Full time project engineer responsible for generation of final study outcome (a detailed PPT presentation and a SPIE-like article) Full time project engineer responsible for generation of final study outcome (a detailed PPT presentation and a SPIE-like article)

6. 6 SYSDEF budget

7. 7 SYStem DEfinition Facility Pro Possibility to include industry with own funding Possibility to include industry with own funding X-ray missions within ESA too few: collaborate as minor partner with JAXA/NASA or try to organize European collaborations X-ray missions within ESA too few: collaborate as minor partner with JAXA/NASA or try to organize European collaborations Mission concepts even for two large space agencies too large (Simbol- X), need to create multi-national involvement Mission concepts even for two large space agencies too large (Simbol- X), need to create multi-national involvement Prepare for << M-class missions Prepare for << M-class missions Prepare for M-class ESA proposals CV2 (estimate is that there will be a heavier emphasis on cost) Prepare for M-class ESA proposals CV2 (estimate is that there will be a heavier emphasis on cost)Con/problems Some agencies (CNES) have this capability themselves Some agencies (CNES) have this capability themselves Why can ESA not provide this service (in the past they did)? Why can ESA not provide this service (in the past they did)? How select the projects? How select the projects? How to judge the outcome if there is no expert team or if there are no two competing industries? How to judge the outcome if there is no expert team or if there are no two competing industries?