2021/12/01 by Stephen A. Smee, Gary J. Hill, Smee, Stephen A. +1
Engineering · Physics and Astronomy · #Astronomy and Astrophysical Research #FOS: Physical sciences #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies #Technology Assessment and Management
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2112.00957
openalex publication_date 2021/12/01 · openalex created_date 2022/05/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
This invited white paper, submitted to the National Science Foundation in\nJanuary of 2020, discusses the current challenges faced by the United States\nastronomical instrumentation community in the era of extremely large\ntelescopes. Some details may have changed since submission, but the basic\ntenets are still very much valid. The paper summarizes the technical, funding,\nand personnel challenges the US community faces, provides an informal census of\ncurrent instrumentation groups in the US, and compares the state-of-affairs in\nthe US with that of the European community, which builds astronomical\ninstruments from consortia of large hard-money funded instrument centers in a\ncoordinated fashion. With the recent release of the Decadal Survey on Astronomy\nand Astrophysics 2020 (Astro2020), it is clear that strong community support\nexists for this next generation of large telescopes in the US. Is the US ready?\nIs there sufficient talent, facilities, and resources in the community today to\nmeet the challenge of developing the complex suite of instruments envisioned\nfor two US ELTs? These questions are addressed, along with thoughts on how the\nNational Science Foundation can help build a more viable and stable\ninstrumentation program in the US. These thoughts are intended to serve as a\nstarting point for a broader discussion, with the end goal being a plan that\nputs the US astronomical instrumentation community on solid footing and poised\nto take on the challenges presented by the ambitious goals we have set in the\nera of ELTs.\n