[mmaimcal] ALMA in the FY2008 Budget

[Al Wootten]

The President has sent the FY2008 Budget to Congress.  Details on the
National Science Foundation request may be found at:
http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2008/
I have excerpted a few words of possible interest here.

The National Science Foundation proposes a fiscal year (FY) 2008 investment 
of $6.43 billion to advance the frontiers of research and education in 
science and engineering. The NSF FY 2008 Budget Request includes an increase 
of $408.79 million (6.8 percent) over the FY 2007 Budget Request. At this 
level, NSF will build on recent advances and support promising initiatives 
to strengthen the Nation's capacity for discovery and innovation.

The Mathematical and Physical Sciences request seeks $1,253M, an 8.9%
increase over the FY2007 request.  Within this division, 
Astronomical Sciences receives a request which is up 8.3% over the FY2007
request.  The Nat'l Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) request is up
3.9 % over the FY2007 request.  NRAO is supported at the level of $52.74 
million, an increase of $2.0 million over the FY 2007
Request. The total includes $8.2 million for ALMA early operations.

Within the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction line,
ALMA is increased by $16.38 million in FY 2007.  Funding requested in FY 
2008 from the MREFC account for ALMA reflects the new baseline configuration 
and cost as approved by the National Science Board.Figures for FY 2008 
and beyond also reflect the new baseline.  

Gemini Observatory and ALMA operations and instrumentation are 
AST's highest priority in facility stewardship.   Early operations funding 
for ALMA increases to $8.2 million within the base budget of the National 
Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO

See pp 10-13 of
http://www.nsf.gov/about/budget/fy2008/pdf/30_fy2008.pdf

Clear skies,
Al
+--------------------------------------------------------+
| Alwyn  Wootten   (http://www.cv.nrao.edu/~awootten/)	 |
| Project Scientist, Atacama Large Millimeter Array/US   |
| Astronomer, National Radio Astronomy Observatory       |        
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