Minutes of February 21, 2006 U.S. INTEGRAL Users Committee (IUC) …

Minutes of February 21, 2006 U.S. INTEGRAL Users Committee (IUC)
                NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Attendees:
IUC members: C. Kouveliotou, C. Dudley, K. Hurley, B. Paciesas, M. McConnell, S.
Starrfield ; (absent: G. Madejski)

Instrument Team Co-I's: R. Rothschild, S. Boggs, M. Finger

Ex-Officio Members: C. Shrader, V. Beckmann, S. Sturner,(NASA INTEGRAL GOF),
B. Teegarden,(US Project Scientist), A. Smale (NASA HQ); (not in attendance: HQ
Program Scientist, R. Harnden

Guest Participant: Dieter Hartmann

Agenda and some view-graph presentations are available on the INTEGRAL GOF Web
site http://integral.gsfc.nasa.gov

The US IUC met on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 at the NASA Goddard Space Flight
Center.

B. Teegarden presented a status report on the observatory. There have been no significant
changes since the July 2005 IUC meeting; the instruments and subsystems continue to
perform nominally. It was noted that the current NASA (Deep-Space Network) telemetry
and command support may not be required after 2007, as a result of orbital evolution.
The mission is expected to continue at least through 2008, and very likely through 2010.

B. Teegarden also reviewed ongoing an analysis effort based on the recent Earth
observations. The potential for modeling out Earth emission; reflected cosmic gamma-
rays, aurora, and cosmic-ray induced bremsstrahlung) and thus making a determination of
the DCGRB was discussed. Images from SPI, IBIS and JEM-X were shown. By ISWT
agreement, the Russian team will lead the publication effort. The committee advocated
coordination and involvement in all press activities that ESA may decide to pursue. The
committee strongly recommended that all press activities where there is a significant US
participation be run in parallel between ESA and NASA.

C. Kouveliotou reviewed the minutes of the November 2005 ESA IUG. Of particular
interest was the planned implementation of key projects, and the potential impact this
would have on the US fraction of open time programs likely to be selected in future AOs.
IUG discussion regarding possible INTEGRAL-XMM joint proposals was reviewed, as
was the IUG proposal to periodically rotate the ESA TAC. If this occurs, it was noted that
a request for expanded US participation be requested.

A. Smale presented an overview of the proposed (i.e. President's) FY07 NASA budget
and its likely implications for astrophysics programs. At present, it does not appear that
the Senior Review portion of MO&DA will be significantly impacted, although other
NASA research activities will be negatively affected. The in-guideline recommendations
(from SR04) for FY-7 and 08 are still realistic. The guidelines for the 2006 Senior
Review (SR06) were presented and discussed. The (IUC) committee inquired about the
makeup of the (SR06) committee. This is undetermined (and proprietary) at present, but
it was noted that, as in the past, the previous chair person will carry over as a committee
member (but not as chair), and an "institutional memory" of an additional 2-3 reviewers
is likely. The committee expressed its desire for significant high-energy astrophysics
representation.

B. Teegarden reviewed the current and proposed FY07 project budget. Significant
anticipated carry-over funds were noted, and should they be sufficient to continue the GO
program through at least AO4. Additional planning to stay within the SR04 guideline
budget, but still continue the GO program was presented. The IUS members agreed on
preserving the EPO efforts and the GSFC instrument support efforts. A gradual de-scope
of the US Co-I activities was proposed, and extensively discussed. Some US Co-I team
representatives strongly objected to the de-scoping, but reached a final consensus on the
issue. However, the committee unanimously agreed and strongly recommended a de-
scope of the GSFC-ISDC activity, specifically to reduce the current 2 FTE level to 1 FTE
over a 1-year timescale. This plan will be presented to (US ISDC Co-I) Nick White.
Other elements of the GSFC budget were critiqued. The IUC requested a detailed
breakdown of the funds allocated to GSFC (tax, FTEs, fringes, etc.), as there were
concerns about double charges. The IUC advocates seeking over-guide funding from HQ
for an Archive/Theory research program in AO5 (FY07) and possibly an INTEGRAL
Fellowship Program.

C. Shrader presented a summary of the INTEGRAL GOF's activities since the last IUC
meeting, notably addressing the specific actions from that meeting. A data analysis
workshop was held at GSFC in November 2005. The consensus view among participants
was positive, and the GOF will likely conduct future workshops, probably on 1.5-2 year
cycles. An E/PO work plan was developed and implemented. About 1/3 FTE is
committed for FY06, and work is ongoing. The GI letter proposed at the July 2005 IUC
was mailed in September 2005. Feedback was discussed. Progress regarding the US
publication rate (for US authored INTEGRAL-related journal articles) was discussed.
The US receives about 15% of the total open program observing time (based on about
25% of the approved proposals). The percentage of US first author journal articles is very
close to this number (about 14%), and only France, Italy and Russia have more 1st-author
articles. Discussion of how to convey this to the SR06 committee was discussed.

C. Shrader discussed plans for the INTEGRAL response to the forthcoming (MO&DA)
SR06 call for proposals. Specific criticisms from SR04 were enumerated and progress
towards addressing each item was discussed. The January 2006 proposal draft was
extensively discussed, and a few specific recommendations made. These include some
reorganization (expand introduction and move instrument description to the technical
section). There was consensus opinion to note scientific synergies between high-energy
missions, notably Swift, and highlight these in the proposal, however, details of how to
do this were unclear. Plans for a subsequent revision schedule, and for the oral
presentation were also discussed. A "red team" committee will be formed to offer final
oversight on the proposal, and to critique a rehearsal of the oral presentation. D.
Hartmann (Clemson Univ., INTEGRAL Guest Investigator) will assist the project with
the oral presentation.

S. Sturner reported on the current status of the US archive. The archive was opened on
schedule, and has remained up to date since. Monthly download statistics were presented.
INTEGRAL is typically, the 3rd or 4th most popular among the HEASARC data bases,
and has been as high as 2nd during certain months.

V. Beckmann discussed the high-level data products developed at GSFC (in collaboration
with ISDC), and demonstrated how they can be accessed through the GOF web site or the
HEASARC Browse facility. Most IUC members seemed unaware of these products, and
it was recommended that they be highlighted in the technical section of the SR06
proposal. The improved capabilities of the OSA 5+ software and calibrations were
highlighted and briefly discussed.

Following the formal presentations and discussions, the following action items were
identified and assignments were made:

C.K. will consult with C. Winkler to obtain the ESA project review text.

C.K. will query NASA HQ regarding the possibility of reinstatement of the
Archive/Theory program.

C.S. will post a revised draft of the SR06 proposal in 1 week. The instrument team Co-I
groups submit revised justification text to C.S. B.T. and K.H. will submit proposed
figures and caption text for the Introduction section to C.S.

C.S. will compile statistics on INTEGRAL triggered ATels, and note this in the SR06
proposal.

C.S. will discuss the possibility of NASA-ESA coordinated press activities with the
GSFC press liaison and science writer (C. Wanjek).