Technology Development Center Response Form
             Joint CSTG/IERS Call for Participation
     International VLBI Service for Geodesy and Astrometry


Technology Development Center name:     MIT Haystack Observatory

Parent/Funding organization:   NEOS, a joint effort of the U.S. Naval 
          Observatory and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center for VLBI

Name and title of primary technical contact: 
         Dr. Alan R. Whitney, Associate Director

Name and title of administrative contact:    
         Dr. Arthur Niell, Principal Research Scientist

Mailing address:                   Haystack Observatory, Westford, MA 01886

Phone:         1-978-692-4764      Fax:      1-781-981-0590

E-mail address: awhitney@haystack.mit.edu         Web address: 

Describe your primary activities in VLBI technology development.
     Developed Mark IIIA and Mark IV VLBI systems

Describe any planned facility upgrades. Install Mark IV correlator - 1999

Number of full-time-equivalent personnel assigned to technology
development center functions: 3

Indicate which of the following IVS Technology Development Center
functions you will perform and explain briefly how you will
perform them:
    Design new hardware: We have been responsible for the
design of the Mark III and Mark IV data acquisition systems and
correlators. We have current efforts focused on development of
new recording head technology. We will continue to pursue
research projects that will improve the VLBI technique.
    Investigate new equipment: We will investigate new
technologies and recording systems that may contribute to
improving the VLBI technique. 
    Develop new software: We have developed all of the
post-processing software systems for the Mark III correlator and
we are currently developing software for the Mark IV correlator.
    Develop, test, and document prototypes: As part of our
involvement with data acquisition systems and correlators for
VLBI, we have developed, tested, and documented prototypes of all
the modules which are part of these systems and we will do so for
new technologies.
    Assist with new technology deployment, installation,
and training: We are providing assistance with implementation of
Mark IV data acquisition systems at foreign stations through
acquisition of hardware, installation of the new hardware at the
stations, and training the local staff in the use of the new
hardware. We will provide such assistance with any new technology
that we develop.
    Provide maintenance functions: We provide maintenance
on all of the Mark III and Mark IV data acquisition systems that
are used for geodetic observing. Maintenance is provided
routinely to stations funded by NEOS, while other stations
receive maintenance on a reimbursable basis. We have test rack
and recorder systems that are used to ensure that new or repaired
modules will operate correctly when they are shipped to the
field. We maintain a set of spares, as time and funding permits,
that can be shipped rapidly to stations in need. We will continue
to support systems in the field, including VLBA systems, as
funding and test equipment permit.

Attach a list of personnel (names and titles) whom you designate
as IVS Associate Members through their affiliation with your
technology development center.
     Dr. Brian Corey, Research Scientist, bcorey@haystack.edu
     Dr. Roger Cappallo, Research Scientist, rcappallo@haystack.edu
     Dr. Hans Hinteregger, Research Scientist, hhinteregger@haystack.edu
     Dr. Colin Lonsdale, Research Scientist, clonsdale@haystack.edu
     Dr. Arthur Niell, Principal Research Scientist, aniell@haystack.edu
     Dr. Daniel Smythe, Research Scientist, dsmythe@haystack.edu
     Dr. Alan Whitney, Associate Director, awhitney@haystack.edu

Please provide any other information that you feel will be
helpful in demonstrating the capabilities of your technology
development center to participate in the IVS. If you proposed to
the IERS in 1995/6 as a technical development center and wish to
have that proposal carry over to the IVS, please make such a
statement in this proposal. 

    We wish to have the IERS proposal for Haystack Observatory as
  a Technology Development Center carry over to IVS.

Your signature on this form indicates your agreement to
participate in the IVS as a Technology Development Center and to
work closely with the IVS Technology 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:  John Bosworth  
Title:    Associate Chief, Laboratory for Terrestrial Physics

Signature: _________________________________________   Date:_______________