1. Outlook for European role in the VSOP-2 mission L.I. Gurvits JIVE, Dwingeloo, The Netherlands VSOP-2 meeting Pasadena, CA, USA, 2006.10.31-11.01

2. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA Space VLBI in Europe Strong interest in the community – endorsed by EVN CBD History of SVLBI studies/proposals (QUASAT, IVS) EVN participation in VSOP-HALCA Three possible funding sources: –ESA; –European Commission (EC Framework Programmes, FP7: 2008-2012?); –National FunAgencies.

3. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA ESA Flexi proposal, 2000 ESA “Enhanced Next Generation Radio Observatory in Space” (EVN F2/F3 proposal, 2000) ESA Space Science Advisory Committee (SSAC) citatation: The SSAC recognises the high level of European interest in Space VLBI, which provides uniquely high spatial resolution. There is currently no approved international space VLBI mission to follow on from the Japanese VSOP (HALCA) mission. If one should be identified in the future, the SSAC recommends that an ESA involvement be considered.

4. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA EVN Flexi proposal 2000: State-of-the-art on-board science package devices: –Receiver(s) and/or their components (LNA, cryogenics - based on Planck & Herschel technologies); –H-maser or Rb frequency standard; SVLBI2-compatible tracking station European operational segment of SVLBI-2 mission in conjunction with the European Data Processing Facility

5. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA ESA Cosmic Vision 2015-2025 Cosmic Vision adopted by ESA as a roadmap for 2015-2025; Specifies themes, not missions; First call for Cosmic Vision mission expected to be released within month(s), €€€ tbd – delayed till Jan 2007; Strong planetary science proposals anticipated; Can VSOP-2 fit in? – unlikely…

6. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA VSOP-2 in Europe: justification for EC FP7 EVN and RadioNet posses state-of-the-art know- how in Space science VLBI applications: –Several highly rated Space VLBI initiatives and pre-design studies, 1984 – 2000; –Broad involvement of EVN observatories and Europe- based users in VSOP; –Ultra-precise VLBI tracking of planetary missions (VEGA- Giotto, Huygens, Smart-1). High degree of synergy with major developments in radio astronomy: –Next generation correlators, low-noise receivers, etc.; –“e-science” – e-VLBI, in particular; –LOFAR, ALMA, SKA – “software telescopes”.

7. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA VSOP-2 and EC FP7 Relevant call for proposals expected in late 2007 Proposal preparation has begun; internal peer-review in mid 2007; Joint Research Activity on SVLBI is on the list of topics to be pursued (LIG to coordinate); Networking Activity on SVLBI is in preparation too (A.Lobanov to coordinate); If approved, funding for 2008-2012

8. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA “ESA via National Agencies” route Unsolicited proposal(s) – favored by ESA Funding at ~ € 20M scale Coherent support by key national delegations is crucial Lobbing to start immediately Updated Science Case is crucial !

9. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA VSOP-2 in Europe EVN Consortium Board of Directors keeps VSOP-2 on its agenda constantly; the next meeting in Dwingeloo, 29 Nov 2006 EVN VSOP-2 Contact Group formed in 1999 –to assist in preparation of the mission as agreed with ISAS/JAXA, –to act as a liaison between the mission and EVN users community Participation in development of some components of science payload is a possibility Tracking support from Yebes 14-m antenna: awaiting request and negotiations – more at this meeting ESA is kept informed on the (European) scientific community interest in the VSOP-2 mission

10. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA SVLBI payload components? Oscilloquartz crystal oscillator ? –Better than 10 -13 over 30 s, –135 x 83 x 75 mm, 900 g, 3 W, –Space qualification possible. 3D linear accelerometer: –Better than 0.5 nm/s 2 ( τ ~minutes). –Verified in several planetary missions. Rx-components (Planck- based) Galileo Rx?

11. Phase-referencing options for VSOP-2 Nodding of the main reflector, <30 s cycle (S/C)difficult Sub-reflector nutationfeasible? In-beam phase-referencingwonderful, but … Dual-antenna S/C configurationbeyond reach Dual-feed configuration (a-la VERA)too complicated Multi-feed arraytoo big, too heavy “Smart” multi-beam antennatechnology? Transformable off-axis antennatoo complicated? Orbit detrmination requirements for PR: imaging 2 mm rms @ 22 GHz (~lambda/7) astrometry0.4 mm rms @ 22 GHz (~lambda/30) Old “new” idea: a two-spacecraft mission easier to sell to the space agencies? easier to sell to the community? Slide of 2001

12. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA VSOP-2 and SKA Array configuration (orbital parameters) simulations Data flow/processing simulations Detectability and image quality simulations (SKA in a “global array” mode) Realistic radio sky (comppact sources) simulations Latest SKA news in Europe…

13. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA Astro-G on the SKA timeline VSOP-2 launch

14. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA European SVLBI-related news Next Generation VLBI correlator: pre-design “thinking” underway eVLBI EC FP6 project EXPReS funded; kick-off on 2006.11.03 VLBI tracking of Huygens Titan Probe (Jan 2005), SMART-1 (May-Sep 2006) Cosmic Vision Call for Proposals expected to get strong response from planetary sci community; might include VLBI components

15. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA Open issues (in place of conclusions) What (from Europe) is needed to the mission? Is ESA willing to allow Astro-G into the Cosmic Vision process? Exploit benefits of VSOP-2 synergy with –EVN-2010 programme (incl Next Generation Correlator); –EXPReS (e-VLBI) developments; –SKADS and SKA in FP7 VSOP-2 in EC FP7 National funding sources

16. 31 October 2006LIG VSOP-2 meeting, JPL, Pasadean, CA, USA Open issues (continued) Science case to be “sharpened”? Phase-referencing to be emphasized! Any chance to go for a higher data rate – 2, 4, 16 Gbit/s? Any implications of a new (more powerful) launcher? Exploiting synergy with SKA developments “Resolution-matching” (mm-VLBI) efforts