RadioAstron Announcement of Opportunity - 2

The space VLBI Mission RadioAstron, led by the Astro Space Center (ASC) of Lebedev Physical Institute, provides a range of specific and unique capabilities for detecting and imaging sources of cosmic radio emission at the highest angular resolution. The optimal utilization of these capabilities relies on the construction and execution of a balanced scientific program for the Mission. The scientific program of RadioAstron consists of three major parts: the Early Science Program (ESP), Key Science Program (KSP), and General Observing Time (GOT) projects. The Early Science Program, which finished in June 2013, explored the main scientific capabilities of RadioAstron observations and paved the way for the subsequent KSP and GOT programs.

RadioAstron KSP observations commenced in July 2013. The KSP is aimed specifically at focusing on the areas of strongest scientific impact of RadioAstron and ensuring a long-lasting scientific impact for the Mission. KSP observations within the AO-1 period are being carried out between July 2013 and June 2014, inclusive.

Starting from the AO-2, proposals are invited for the RadioAstron Key Science Program and General Observing Time experiments to be submitted by 27 January 2014 23:59 UT to the Mission, and to ground radio telescopes required for the specific observations by their respective proposal deadlines. AO-2 observations will be performed between July 2014 and June 2015 inclusive. It is anticipated that about 2/3 of the total time will be devoted to KSP programs (new or continued) and about 1/3 to GOT observations.

Full proposals are to be submitted by e-mail as single pdf files to the address: ra_submit@asc.rssi.ru

List of AO-2 related documents