National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC)

1. National Astronomy and Ionosphere Center (NAIC) 305-meter fixed, spherical reflector located in Arecibo, Puerto Rico World’s largest single-dish radio telescope and most powerful scientific radar system Unique in its sensitivity for passive radio astronomy, solar system radar astronomy, and ionospheric observations

2. Passive Radio Astronomy • Arecibo L-band Feed Array (ALFA) serves as workhorse instrument for passive astronomy, particularly through large surveys, commissioned in 2005-06 • Addition in 2008 of 300-MHz BW Mock spectrometers and continued use of 100-MHz BW WAPP spectrometers allow “commensal” observing for three separate programs on each telescope pointing • Availability of 700-800 MHz spectral region (analog TV transmissions) exploited with preparation of suitable receiver and special call for proposals

3. Low-Mass, Gas-Rich Galaxies HIPASS completeness limit • ALFALFA survey, 90% complete, has detected gas-rich galaxies over much larger volume than previously sampled • Main form of baryonic matter is atomic gas instead of stars in many galaxies

4. NAIC Atmospheric Sciences • GEO/AGS considers Arecibo to be a critical component of the strategically distributed chain of incoherent scatter radars managed by the Upper Atmospheric Facilities Program • AGS has historically supported incremental costs of NAIC Space and Atmospheric Sciences program • AGS anticipates increases in annual support and flexible observing time, in part to offset AST reductions • Currently constructing ionospheric heating facility in partnership with AFOSR and ONR

5. Arecibo Role in NEO Surveys • Congress has mandated that NASA identify, track and characterize potentially hazardous near-earth objects (NEOs) • NRC Report Defending Planet Earth: NEO Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies published in 2010 • Identifies unique role for Arecibo Observatory in characterization of NEOs • In FY 2010, NASA Near Earth Object Observation Program established support of $2.0M to NAIC expressly for planetary radar capabilities; agency intends to continue this level of support pending annual appropriations.

6. Angel Ramos Visitor and Learning Center • About 100,000 visitors each year, including 25%-30% school children • Primary science learning center in Puerto Rico • Features exhibits, science store, workshop facility for student and teacher training • Construction funded from private donations, most from within Puerto Rico; operates on self-sustaining basis

7. NAIC Management and Operations (M&O) • NAIC oversight is provided by the Division of Astronomical Sciences (AST) in coordination with the Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (AGS) • Current cooperative agreement with Cornell University for NAIC M&O expires 30 Sep 2011 • NSF has solicited proposals for a new, five-year cooperative agreement for NAIC M&O through an open, competitive, merit-based review process

8. Management Structure • NSF coordination: • AST oversees main cooperative agreement and all but AGS award component • AGS cooperative support agreement funds Space & Atmospheric Sciences group • Coordination with DACS, LFO, OGC, etc. • Cornell: • Responsible Executive—VP for Research (Ithaca HQ) • NAIC Director (Ithaca HQ) • Observatory Site Director (Arecibo)

9. NSF Oversight and Planning • Annual Progress Report and Program Plan—reviewed annually with site visit using external panel • Management Review at midpoint of cooperative agreement • Cornell convenes annual meetings of Visiting Committee and Users’ Committee—report to Cornell • Site Visits by NSF program managers and division management • Weekly to bi-weekly telecons with NAIC management • AST Senior Review, Decommissioning Study, Facility Cost Reviews

10. Senior Review Recommendations for NAIC • Assessed NAIC astronomy program as very strong but lower priority relative to other astronomical facilities; identified among three facilities for reduced AST investment • Transition program for NAIC recommended three-year taper in AST support from $10.5M to $8.0M (in FY06$) • Recommended further decrease after 2010 such that: • AST support not to exceed half of the anticipated operations costs • NAIC seek partners to contribute financial or personnel support to the operation of Arecibo Observatory • Closure considered if NAIC unable to operate with competitive scientific productivity • Senior Review did not assess GEO/AGS science component

11. Base NSF Support ($M) Does not include REU, ARRA or other supplemental activities.

12. Supplemental Support • Supplemental funding to NAIC has included one-time investments to reduce future operations costs and to address critical maintenance, safety and infrastructure: • $2.4M in FY07 in partial support of re-coating project to clean and protect structural steel • $0.5M in FY08 to support NAIC Partnerships Office • $3.1M in FY09 (ARRA) for safety, environmental compliance and energy-efficiency improvements, transmitter refurbishment, and 12-m steerable antenna for VLBI and educational partnerships • Investments emphasize risk reduction, long-term viability and partnership-building consistent with Senior Review

13. Future Support for NAIC • FY11–FY16 AST support is based upon: • Senior Review recommendations • Third-party cost review of AST facilities • Third-party estimate of NAIC nonscientific function costs • AGS and AST will share support for general operations • Combined support from AST and AGS provides viable base for facility operations, albeit with reduced scope

14. Future Support for NAIC • NAIC M&O Program Solicitation identified five-year budget guidance at a reduced level relative to historical operations • Program solicitation did not prescribe budget allocations among research program areas • NASA plans $2M annually for planetary radar, subject to appropriation

15. Management Competition • Program Solicitation NSF 10-562 published in April 2010 • Informational Site Visit for potential proposing organizations held at Arecibo Observatory in June 2010 • Required Letters of Intent due 2 August 2010 • Full proposals due 1 October 2010, currently under review with Director’s Review Board action anticipated in April 2011 • Following recommendation and negotiation of an award and, if applicable, an appropriate transition plan, new cooperative agreement planned for award in early FY12

16. Competition Complexities • Reconsideration of NAIC FFRDC status • Retention of staff and benefits if awardee changes • Status of Angel Ramos Visitor and Learning Center • Appropriate role for private-public partnerships, international agreements and cost sharing • Open skies and dedicated telescope time • Title and transfer of property, plant and equipment • Transfer of current contracts and agreements • Application of Defense Base Act requirements

17. The Local Context • NAIC offers significant potential to: • enhance the participation of underrepresented and underserved communities within Puerto Rico in the research and education mission of the Observatory and • strengthen the strategic growth of a scientific and technically trained workforce both in the region and for the Nation • Solicitation aimed to leverage the scientific and educational capabilities of Arecibo Observatory through institutional partnerships, both within and beyond Puerto Rico

18. Backups follow

19. Pulsar J1903+0327 • Millisecond pulsar discovered in 2005 data from Arecibo Galactic pulsar survey of unprecedented sensitivity • Follow-up observations combine multi-wavelength data from several NSF-supported facilities—NAIC, Gemini and NRAO—in an international research collaboration • 2008 Science article reports unique combination of properties, which both challenges binary pulsar evolution theories and could constrain equation of state for nuclear matter at high densities: • fast spin • large mass • mysteriously eccentric orbit • unusual companion