[mmaimcal] FYI: 16 Jan BIWEEKLY CALENDAR OF THE ALMA PROJECT at NRAO

[Al Wootten]

Folks,

Comments, changes?

Al
                     BIWEEKLY CALENDAR OF THE ALMA PROJECT at NRAO
                          Jan 16, 2006 -- Jan 30, 2006

******************************** THIS FORTNIGHT*****************************
ANNOUNCEMENT

Head of North American ALMA Science Center (NAASC)

As you are all aware, Paul Vanden Bout has stepped down as the Head of
the North American ALMA Science Center effective January 1, 2006.
Adrian Russell and I would like to take the opportunity to thank Paul
for his superb work in developing the plans for the NAASC and helping
bring it into reality.  Of course Paul was also pivotal in the genesis
of the entire ALMA project as well - we all owe him a tremendous debt!

We are currently going through an internal search for a full-time Head
of the NAASC and expect to fill the post very soon.  In the meantime,
Adrian Russell will assume the role of acting Head of the NAASC.  We are
also delighted to announce that John Hibbard has assumed the role of
Acting Head of the NA ALMA Regional Center, a subset of the NAASC with
responsibilities for the core ALMA Operations functions in North
America.

Fred K. Y. Lo
Director
----------------------------------------------------------------------
At a meeting in Washington on 9-10 Feb, a delegation from ESO Council 
met with NSF for discussions of hiring local labor in Chile.
It was agreed that a detailed agreement whereby AUI will hire all local
labor in Chile will be pursued.  Both ESO Council and NSF recognized
the benefits of the offer of land at the Vitacura site in Santiago for
the location of the Santiago ALMA building.  This agreement is an important
demonstration of the willingness of ESO Council and NSF to work
together for the success of the ALMA project.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Past issues of this Calendar may be viewed at
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/ALMACalendars.html
See also the JAO ALMA Calendar overview at:
http://www.alma.cl/alma_project
*******************************************************************************
General Happenings

OSF: Rough Work on the permanent access road from km 28 to the AOS is 
in progress at km 40. Construction of the contractor's camp completion 
is finished. Provisional Acceptance has been granted.  There are about
175 people working at the site.  The site museum at km 21 is complete.
VERTEX working area earthwork started on 02-Jan-2006 to be completed on 
15-Feb-2006. Each contractor's work area will have five antenna foundations.
OSF antenna foundations excavations are under way. 
Sewage treatment plant mud drying facility is under way.

AOS: Eduardo just sent along a photo taken recently of AOS construction 
progress:  http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/16Jan06AM2.jpg
AOS building foundations and shell construction finishing date is March 2006.

ATF: Disassembly of the Mitsubishi prototype antenna to be returned to
Osaka for retrofit is under way.  View: http://almacam4.atf.nrao.edu
AEC antenna tested by Computing IPT.  Optical pointing tests to commence
this biweek.

AOC: Python version of AIPS++/CASA demonstrated; testing planned for Feb.
Central LO rack rework largely completed.

NTC: Front End Support Structure and mechanical tolerances review occurs this
week.  Cryostat No. 2 was received at the NTC.  Mixer preamps qualified 
for B6 (1.3mm) cartridges No. 3 & 4.

SMA: Two prototype WVRs have been installed on SMA antennas for testing.

Victoria: Testing of B3 (3mm) cartridge No. 2 completed.

NAASC:  The ZMachines meeting was very successful.  A rogue's gallery may
be viewed at: http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~jmangum/ZMachines/
Presentations will be posted shortly.
*******************************************************************************
DAILY CALENDAR (Times EDT ) see
https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/ALMA/AlmaCalendar
 Mon  16 January Holiday in NA (MLKing Day)
 Tue  17 Jan
10:30 am JAO/IPT telecon
 4:00 PM-5:00 PM: NAScienceIPT teleconference (open to all interested 
                                 parties) (434)296-7082
 Wed  18 Jan
 Thu  19 Jan
09:30 am MIPT telecon
10:00 am ALMA Calibration telecon
 Fri  20 Jan
All Day: ESAC Meeting, Garching
10:30 am ALMA Holography telecon
 Sat  21 Jan
 Sun  22 Jan
 Mon  23 Jan
All Day: ALMA NA Delta Cost Review Preparations
 Tue  24 January
All Day: ALMA NA Delta Cost Review Preparations
 Wed  25 January
 Thu  26 January
All Day: ALMA Delta Cost Review, NSF 
 Fri  27 January
All Day: ALMA Delta Cost Review, NSF
11:00 am ALMA Board Telecon 
 Sat  28 January ASAC face-to-face meeting, University of Maryland
 Sun  29 January ASAC face-to-face meeting, University of Maryland
 Mon  30 January
All Day: ALMA NA Delta Cost Review (thru 1 Feb) 
****************************** UPCOMING EVENTS ****************************
ALMA Calendar--https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/ALMA/AlmaCalendar
    * Jan 12-14 -- ALMA Zmachines workshop
    * Jan 26-27 -- ALMA Delta Cost Review, DC
    * Jan 27 -- ALMA Board telecon
    * Jan 28-29 ASAC face-to-face
    * Jan 30-Feb 1 -- NA ALMA Review, Charlottesville
    * Feb 9-10 -- VERTEX Preliminary Pre-Production Design Review, Duisburg
    * Mar 22-24 -- ALMA Board meeting, Kyoto, Japan
******************************* TECHNICAL NEWS *****************************
******************************ALSO OF INTEREST******************************
******************************************************************************
Please send information for upcoming calendars by Friday evening of the
preceding biweekly period to Jennifer Neighbours or Al Wootten via e-mail
(jneighbo at nrao.edu or awootten at nrao.edu).

The calendar will be issued between late Friday and sometime on Monday by
e-mail to all NRAO scientific staff members and anyone else interested. 
A specific mailing list, alma-info, has been created for anyone wishing 
to receive it.
Past issues are available at
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/mmaimcal/ALMACalendars.html