Planning of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer preliminary design phase in an evolving astronomy landscape

Kei Szeto; Doug Simons; Jennifer L. Marshall; Mary Beth Laychak

doi:10.1117/12.2562932

13 December 2020 Planning of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer preliminary design phase in an evolving astronomy landscape

Kei Szeto, Doug Simons, Jennifer L. Marshall, Mary Beth Laychak

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11445, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VIII; 1144519 (2020) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562932
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2020, Online Only

Abstract

The Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer project’s preliminary design phase start coincides with planned and unplanned events in the national and international astronomy landscape. As the decade draws to a close, most MSE participants are undergoing national strategic planning for key future astronomical development. There are processes similar to the Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics in the US. Much of the Project Office activities since our last 2018 report have been aligned in supporting these strategic plans. A vital activity related to the Maunakea Observatories (MKO), including the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) Corporation and Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer, is to secure future access to the mountain for astronomy as affected by the current protest over the Thirty Meter Telescope. Much of the MKO activities have been centered on ensuring the long-term success of astronomy on the mountain beyond 2033. However, the most significant unplanned activity has been managing progress through the ongoing COVID pandemic and anticipating its effects on the timeline and efficacy of upcoming national strategic planning recommendations for astronomy among other national priorities. This paper provides a status report of MSE as it enters the preliminary design phase, and our plan to progress and manage changes in an evolving national and international astronomy landscape.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Kei Szeto, Doug Simons, Jennifer L. Marshall, and Mary Beth Laychak "Planning of the Maunakea Spectroscopic Explorer preliminary design phase in an evolving astronomy landscape", Proc. SPIE 11445, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes VIII, 1144519 (13 December 2020); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2562932

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available