[alma_na] ALMA NA DH Meeting Minutes

[Carolyn White]

ALMA NA DH Meeting - 2002-May-06

Attendees - Glendenning, Gray, Kingsley, Mangum, Payne, Perfertto, Porter,
Radford, Rafal, Simon, Sramek, Webber

Issues From Venice and Granada Meetings
---------------------------------------

Venice Meeting - The meeting started with status reports from Rafal and
Kurz. Following these reports, much of the remaining discussions were in
closed session. By the end, the ACC had made the following decisions:

  - AEC is to produce a Project Plan which includes fewer details

  - The ACC will cease to exist, and an ALMA Board will be created (ad-hoc
for now, which includes four NA members, four European members, and one
Chilean).

  - Create the Joint ALMA Office in two steps: 1) will begin to advertise
    for permanent office; 2) appoint interim positions for ALMA Director,
    ALMA Project Manager, and ALMA Scientist.  There may or may not be an
    ALMA Engineer.  The ACC expects to have interim operations in place by
    2002-Jun-01.

The AMAC Meeting will likely focus on the antenna procurement, front end
design and production, computing (interest expressed), and system
engineering.  Under the above management plan, the AMAC will report to the
ALMA Board.  The charge to the AMAC has not yet been made.

The ACC discussed the role of the ASAC.  There is concern that the ASAC
has not been givin sufficient guidance by the ACC.  It was decided that
the Project Scientist will generate a charge to the ASAC prior to each
ASAC Meeting to focus questions that the Board needs more information on.

Granada Meeting - Back End PDR - Sramek is still collecting comments and
other documentation which will include clarification and firm up
unresolved issues.  One outcome of the PDR is that the engineering
interface definitions are not complete.  Some scheduling issues still
remain.

Computing - Glendenning states there were no controversial issues at the
meeting; see his meeting summary.

Front End - There is the issues between partners whether front end
schedule strives to meet the antenna schedule or if the front end schedule
should determine the antenna schedule.  The Europeans do not see wisdom in
delivering partial front ends with fewer than four front end bands.  There
is additional uncertainty caused by ongoing management changes in the
front end area.  We clearly need to get real LO prototype to the cartridge
designers.  It does appear that important work at RAL is going well.
Rafal would like to see an early cryostat #2 delivered to Tucson.  Tucson
is working with RAL on chasis.

System Engineering - Gray reports that site scope works proceeding
rapidly; expect to have user accounts soon.  The product tree is maturing.
We have clarified the definition of ICD's.

Site Development - Radford reports that we now have a task division and
structure that is workable.  Radford will be going to Chile next week to
complete OSF site access road studies to deliver to Hofstadt.  Hofstadt is
encouraged at progress of recent negotiations.

Antenna - Parts are in Texas; expect to have delivery 15 - 20th of
May. The second panel manufacture has started; expect to have all panels
in four months.  Working on various issues at VLA site.  Porter reported
that import duty issues are resolved.  Full time site activity starts on
May 20.

The next meeting will be Monday, May 13.