VLBI Space Observatory Programme (VSOP) observations involve the HALCA satellite co-observing with a number of ground radio telescopes. There are three categories of scientific observations with the VSOP satellite:
General Observing Time is open to the astronomical community through peer-reviewed proposals. Details on proposing for observations are given in the Announcement of Opportunity.
Proposals may be selected as part of the mission's Key Science Programs.
A number of Simulation software packages are available when considering proposals for VSOP time.
Principal Investigators (PIs) are contacted individually with news from the Scientific Review Committee's ranking of proposals. The schedule for upcoming observations can be viewed. PIs will be contacted about three weeks before an observation of theirs will be carried out, when they will be given a chance to comment on the detailed observing schedule.
Carefully check the details in the schedule, and let the schedulers know of any changes required in the contact details, correlator output tape shipping details, or the schedule itself. The VSOP Observation Status page contains details of all previous GOT observations. Details on VSOP Observation Codes and Telescope and Tracking Station Codes may help in understanding schedules and the Experiment Status pages. Finally, check the Observers Frequently Asked Questions page, and if you still can't find the information you need, go to the bottom of the FAQ page and mail us!
HALCA calibration data is available from this site. The VSOP correlator comparisons are described here. Ground radio telescope calibration data is available from the usual sites (which are detailed in that link). More details on Reduction and Imaging are available. Finally, check the Observers Frequently Asked Questions page, and if you still can't find the information you need, go to the bottom of the FAQ page and mail us!
All data acquired by VSOP will be the exclusive scientific property of the proposers for 18 months following the date when the correlated data is released to the PI. For monitoring and multi-source proposals, the proprietary period will end until 18 months after the date when the last data from a program are released to the PI. \ Definition of this date will be the responsibility of the VSOG. This correlator release date is listed among the details on each observation available as a link from the VSOP Observation Status page.
The VSOP Newsletters contain a wealth of
information on the mission and its progress.
The Literature page contains handy
references to published material about the project.
There are many related Sites
that are worth checking out too.