Overview of the SOFIA Data Cycle System: An integrated set of tools and services for the SOFIA General Investigator

摘要

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is an airborneastronomical observatory comprised of a 2.5 meter infrared telescope mounted inthe aft section of a Boeing 747SP aircraft that flies at operational altitudesbetween 37,000 and 45,00 feet, above 99% of atmospheric water vapor. Duringroutine operations, a host of instruments will be available to the astronomicalcommunity including cameras and spectrographs in the near- to far-IR; a sub-mmheterodyne receiver; and an high-speed occultation imager. One of thechallenges for SOFIA (and all observatories in general) is providing a uniformset of tools that enable the non-expert General Investigator (GI) to propose,plan, and obtain observations using a variety of very different instruments inan easy and seamless manner. The SOFIA Data Cycle System (DCS) is an integratedset of services and user tools for the SOFIA Science and Mission Operations GIProgram designed to address this challenge. Program activities supported by theDCS include: proposal preparation and submission by the GI; proposal evaluationby the telescope allocation committee and observatory staff; AstronomicalObservation Request (AOR) preparation and submission by the GI; observation andmission planning by observatory staff; data processing and archiving; dataproduct distribution. In this poster paper we present an overview of the DCSconcepts, architecture, and user tools that are (or soon will be) available inroutine SOFIA operations. In addition, we present experience from the SOFIABasic Science program, and planned upgrades.