MWA Director’s ReportAlan Whitney

MWA Project Meeting

Canberra

19-23 January 2009

Topics

• Progress

• Challenges

• Looking forward

Progress• Highly successful Nov 07 site visit

– 32T tiles/beamformers and four recvrs deployed; software correlator

– ~1.5TB of 26T data collected on several sources– Highly successful image making – Performance verified to be close to expectations– Sets the stage for full 32T demonstration over next

few months• NSF review in Boston last week

– Happy with the 26T results we presented– NSF understands budget shortfalls due to delays and

technical problems– NSF remains committed to project, but is watching closely– Supplemental funding a possibility

More Progress

•Good progress on hardware correlator

•Project and budget are rapidly shaping up

• Tight and effective management team• Interim Project Director (Alan Whitney, Haystack)• Interim Project Manager (Steven Tingay, Curtin)• Interim Project Scientist (Lincoln Greenhill, CfA)• Interim Project Engineer (Frank Briggs, ANU)• Commissioning Engineer (David Emrich, Curtin)• Deputy Project Managers

−Roger Cappallo (U.S.)−Uday Shankar (India)−ST currently filling in (AU)

Near-term challenges• Successful AAL review to release NCRIS funds

– Must meet prescribed criteria, including –• Full project and budget plan for array completion – mid Feb 09• Successful 32T operation w/ hardware correlator – mid-09

– First stage review to release 1st funding increment; 2nd increment targeted for array completion in mid-2010

– Still much work to do– Quite optimistic

• Must find permanent PM– Steven has agreed to stay until ~Jun 09 – Actively interviewing candidates– To be based in Perth

– Facing challenge to stretch funds to full 512T

More near-term challenges

• Settle disposition of several workpackages– Receiver

– Clock distribution system

– RTC selection

• Communications– Geographic and institutional dispersion presents many challenges

– Good project management communications, but still wider project challenges

– Suggestions welcome

– New website coming along;see preview at www.mwatelescope.org

Looking forward

• Technical elements are now coming firmly together,but still a few rough spots to overcome

• Hope to report on full 32T success plus substantial new contributions to MWA coffers at Seattle meeting in June!

• We are on-track to complete the array in mid-2010!

Projection – optimistic!

• Community interest remains very high

Thanks to everyone for their hard work, teamwork and

dedication!