Legacy Program: Resources Available

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Resources Available

The resources available to approved Legacy Science teams include observing time, funding, and SSC technical assistance.

Observing Time

The high observing efficiency of Spitzer will translate into an extraordinary number of astronomical observing time annually. Apart from telemetry, routine calibrations and assorted engineering activities, it is estimated that more than 6000 hours of science observing time will be available annually. The SSC anticipates that ~3000 hours of observing time will be allocated to Legacy Science projects within the first year of the Spitzer mission. Depending on the nature and scope of submitted proposals, it is conceivable that an additional ~1000 hours might be devoted to Legacy Science investigations early in Spitzer's second year. Six Legacy programs were selected, for a total of nearly 3200 hours of Observatory time.

Funding

The Spitzer Science Center (SSC) provides funding for approved Legacy Science investigators. The funding is offered in three stages, and will be conditional on the demonstration of satisfactory progress during each stage.

Prior to Spitzer's launch, this funding was intended to support detailed observation planning, the collection of ancillary data, and the development of post-pipeline data processing algorithms and software. Following launch, funding will support a variety of activities, including: monitoring of observing program, validation of observing strategy and refinement of observing plans (as necessary), continued development of post-pipeline data products, extraction of early science results from data, and the delivery of higher-level data products to the SSC.

The SSC expects to offer a total of ~$20 million in investigator support for the multi-year Legacy Science Program, with a total of $2.5 million available before launch.

SSC Support

Each Legacy Science team has an SSC scientist designated to serve as their scientific and technical liaison. The SSC hosted a post-selection Legacy Science Workshop in January 2001 in Pasadena. This Workshop brought together members of the approved Legacy Science teams, the Spitzer Instrument Teams and SSC staff to discuss matters of mutual interest.

The SSC also formed a Legacy Science Working Group (LSWG), comprised of Legacy Science project investigators, Spitzer Guaranteed Time Observers (GTOs), and SSC scientists and engineers. The purpose of the LSWG was to provide a forum to:

Promote the common adoption of data reduction/analysis/validation and software standards & tools when it makes sense to do so
Facilitate cross-team intellectual exchanges & refinement of observing strategies/programs
Facilitate exchanges with GTOs, in pursuit of greater efficiencies and effectiveness of science programs

Go back to Legacy information home page or on to Responsibilities of Investigators.