Some Major Milestones in the Development of the EISCAT Svalbard Radar (ESR) Planning

1989

SERC Ground-Based Plan included a proposal for a major ionospheric and atmospheric radar in the polar cap

UK report on scientific and technical specifications for a radar on Svalbard Presentation of this plan to EISCAT

Endorsement of this proposal by EISCAT SAC and Council

1990

May

Installation of the Polar Cap Radar (PCR) Working Group during the EISCAT Council meeting on Svalbard

Aim for 3 MW, 3 antennas

Monthly meetings of this EISCAT PCR Working Group

Antenna Pre-feasibility Study

October

Presentation of draft report to EISCAT Council on scientific goals and design specifications for an ionospheric and atmospheric radar facility on Svalbard

November

EISCAT Council agreement to continue planning in order to meet the Cluster mission in 1995

1991

Continuation of organizational, administrative, management and technical preparations of an EISCAT radar system on Svalbard by EISCAT Executives

August

Issue of the final version of the "Report on the design specifications for an ionospheric and atmospheric radar facility based on the archipelago of Svalbard" (White Report)

Installation of first extra personnel for the planning of the new radar

September

Technical design specification meeting, discussions on coordination with Japanese plans for a radar on Svalbard

October

First meeting of the Long-Term Planning (LTP) Group of EISCAT Council

November

Council agreement on principal project management plan for the EISCAT Svalbard Radar "ESR". All EISCAT associates agree at the Council meeting on the continuation of the ESR planning, using existing EISCAT and some new resources.

1992

January

Meeting on the definition of data acquisition and digital signal processing

Executive meeting to explore further utilization of EISCAT resources for ESR development

February

Second meeting of LTP Group

April

AFC meeting agrees on transmitter amplifier tender action

Transmitter tender action, antenna studies Preparations for site, infrastructure, frequency clearance, etc.

May

EISCAT Council memorandum on the intention to construct the ESR and consensus to proceed with the preparations necessary to accomplish the phased development of the radar with the objective to reach an agreement to proceed with the construction of the initial phases of the radar at the Council meeting in November 1992 with the aim that the first two phases should be operational during the Cluster space mission.

July

Third meeting of LTP Group

Evaluation of expected funds would allow a minimum initial version of the ESR to be constructed Receipt of transmitter bids

August

First formal ESR Management Meeting MM-01

Announcement of opportunity for antenna(s)

Evaluation of transmitter bids, arrangements for site groundwork

Directions for DSP, control and monitor standards

Recommendation of SCOSTEP

September

SAC meeting investigates scientific merits of one-dish and two-dish systems and minimum power

ESR Design Review Meeting (DRM), Second Management Meeting MM-02

October

AFC meeting, Fourth LTP Group meeting

Third ESR Management Meeting MM-03

November

EISCAT Council decides to begin the construction of the initial phases of the ESR

Order of transmitter prototype module from Harris Allied in UK

Request for Proposal of the antenna sent out

Announcement of Opportunity for project participation issued to Associates

December

Fourth Management Meeting MM-04

Document : ANRE92A.DOC (part)

Created : 6.11.93

By : Jürgen Röttger

HTML debugged and edited 02/08-95, by Bjørge; Brekke