Analysis Center Response Form Joint CSTG/IERS Call for Participation International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry Analysis Center name: Goddard Space Flight Center Type of analysis center: global_x_ special___ Parent/Funding organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Name and title of primary scientific/technical contact: Chopo Ma, Geophysicist Name and title of administrative contact: W. T. Wildes, GSFC VLBI Network Manager Mailing address: Code 926, Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA Phone: +1-301-286-3992 Fax: +1-301-286-1760 E-mail address: cma@virgo.gsfc.nasa.gov Web address: http://lupus.gsfc.nasa.gov If applying as a Special Analysis Center, describe the special type(s) of analysis you will perform. If applying as a Global Analysis Center, describe the global analysis you will perform. Indicate your specific analysis interests and describe how you select the data you analyze. We will combine all the available geodetic and astrometric data to generate TRF, CRF, and EOP results on a regular basis. Our primary interest is the analysis of CORE data to provide high resolution EOP time series for geophysical research. A strong secondary interest is the maintenance and extension of the CRF. As the CORE program evolves from weekly to daily observations our goal is to provide near-real-time results. Describe the computer hardware configuration and the software package(s) you use for analysis. Software: CALC/SOLVE Hardware: HP 9000/780 bootes HP 9000/745 aleph HP 9000/735 aquila, dorado, leo, virgo HP 9000/730 vega HP 9000/715 gemini HP 9000/710 lupus Internet connection type or bit rate: T3 Data storage capacity: ~100 Gbytes for analysis Describe any planned facility upgrades. None Number of full-time-equivalent personnel assigned to analysis center functions: 4 Indicate which data center(s) you use: CDDIS, USNO, U. Bonn Indicate which of the following IVS Analysis Center functions you will perform and explain briefly how you will perform them: Provide timely feedback to stations: Upon receiving data from a correlator facility, depending on the format, we do the necessary steps to create a Mark III data base, which may include fringe processing and adding calibrations from VLBI station logs. We do routine one-day analysis and place the results, text and graphics, automatically on the Goddard VLBI web site for perusal by station staff. Create high quality products and perform timely archiving and distribution: We periodically use all the available geodetic/astrometric data to make large solutions tailored for TRF, CRF and EOP results. These include tables of station positions and velocities, maps of total and residual station velocities, time series of baseline and station position components in machine-readable and graphic form, J2000 source positions, polar motion and UT1 averaged over daily and hourly intervals, and daily nutation offsets. Current and superseded results are made available through the Goddard VLBI web site. Place final results (TRF, CRF, EOP, and others) in IVS Data Centers: The final results of the periodic large solutions are available by linking from CDDIS. We transmit the TRF, EOP, and CRF results to the IERS Central Bureau as requested annually. Perform software development and documentation: We continually update SOLVE to add new algorithms and features to improve the accuracy, speed and convenience of analysis using SCCS to maintain configuration control and Email to announce changes. The latest version is available to other analysis centers on request. We maintain a users guide for running the sequential, incremental batch mode used in large solutions. As geophysical and astronomical models are improved and documented in the IERS Conventions, they are implemented in CALC. We maintain the utilities and catalogs that constitute the Mark III VLBI data base system and the batch solution archive system. Compare products: We compare our TRF and EOP results with those from other centers and techniques albeit infrequently in the past. Adhere to IERS Conventions: We update CALC to conform as much as practical the IERS Conventions. Attach a list of personnel (names and titles) whom you designate as IVS Associate Members through their affiliation with your analysis center. Karen Baver, Programmer, Raytheon/STX, kdb@leo.gsfc.nasa.gov Benjamin Chao, Space Geodesy Branch Head, GSFC, chao@denali.gsfc.nasa.gov John Gipson, VLBI Scientist, NVI, Inc./GSFC, jmg@leo.gsfc.nasa.gov Frank Gomez, System Programmer, Raytheon/STX, fgg@gemini.gsfc.nasa.gov David Gordon, VLBI Scientist, Raytheon/STX, dgg@leo.gsfc.nasa.gov Chopo Ma, Geophysicist, GSFC, cma@virgo.gsfc.nasa.gov Daniel MacMillan, VLBI Scientist, NVI, Inc./GSFC, dsm@leo.gsfc.nasa.gov Please provide any other information that you feel will be helpful in demonstrating your analysis center's capabilities to participate in the IVS. If you proposed to the IERS in 1995/6 as an analysis center and wish to have that proposal carry over to the IVS, please make such a statement in this proposal. The Goddard VLBI group has done VLBI analysis since 1975 and originated the CALC/SOLVE analysis and Mark III VLBI data base systems. We are active in improving VLBI analysis, particularly in large solutions and in modeling the troposphere and EOP variations. Your signature on this form indicates your agreement to participate in the IVS as an Analysis Center and to work closely with the IVS Analysis Coordinator. If this is a new proposal (i.e. not carried over from IERS) your signature commits your organization to participate in the IVS. Name of person signing: Benjamin F. Chao Title: Head, Space Geodesy Branch Signature: _________________________________________ Date: ____________