The ngVLA Timeline

Presentation to Astro2020 RMS Panel

The ngVLA Project will make a presentation to the Astro2020 Panel on Radio, Millimeter and Submillimeter Observations from the Ground. This presentation will occur during a session open to the public.

Additional Development Funding and Creation of ngVLA Cooperative Support Agreement with NSF

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded an additional $4M to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) and Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) to fund the design and development of the next generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). With this funding increment, NSF has created a cooperative support agreement for this new planned radio telescope, which will have scientific capabilities far beyond those provided by any existing or currently proposed observatory.

Reference Design Published

The ngVLA Reference Design is a low-technical-risk, costed concept that supports the key science goals for the facility, and forms the technical and cost basis of the ngVLA Astro2020 Decadal Survey proposal. The compendium includes a total of 56 technical documents and represents the work of more than 54 engineers and scientists contributing to the project.

ngVLA Astro2020 APC White Paper Submitted

The ngVLA Project Submission to the Astro2020 Call for Activities, Projects, or State of the Profession Consideration (APC) white papers. This white paper summarized both the key science goals of the ngVLA and describes the reference design of the array.

3rd ngVLA Science Meeting

The goal of this workshop was to review the astrophysical frontiers identified in the Science White Papers submitted to the Astro 2020 Decadal Survey with a particular focus on those science frontiers that demand observations at centimeter and/or millimeter wavelengths across all Astro 2020 thematic areas.

ngVLA Science Book Published

With nearly 90 chapters (850+ pages) from 285+ authors, this volume highlights key areas of astrophysics that are ripe for major breakthroughs and underscores the broad U.S. and international support for pursuing a next-generation Very Large Array (ngVLA). While this published volume will serve as a critical snapshot for the ngVLA project status and a vision for the ngVLA transformational science, we envisage this science book as a living document that will be periodically updated through the initiation of construction.

2nd ngVLA Science Meeting

This conference brought together a substantial cross-section of the astronomical community to discuss how to effectively address the highest priority astrophysical questions of our time.

First Draft of the ngVLA Science Book Released

With 50 (refereed) contributions received to date by nearly 200 unique authors, and more than 10 still in prep., this volume highlights key areas of astrophysics that are ripe for major breakthroughs and clearly underscores the broad U.S. and international support that exists for pursuing a next-generation Very Large Array in the next decade. The science book will continue to be updated over the summer, with contributions being accepted by our Science Advisory Committee until September 1, 2018 in the hope that community members will consider authoring additional chapters, especially for areas that appear to be missing in the current draft.

Second Round of ngVLA Community Studies Announced

ngVLA Development Funding

The NSF allows NRAO to re-profile $11M in funding to support ngVLA development in preparation for Astro2020 Decadal Survey.

ngVLA Key Science Goals Memo Posted

ngVLA Reference Design Memo Posted

ngVLA Science and Technology Meeting

This workshop focussed on building community concensus on the key science goals and associated technical requirements for the ngVLA.

ngVLA Technical Advisory Council Announced

First Round of ngVLA Community Studies Announced

ngVLA Science Advisory Council Announced

ngVLA Science White Papers posted on arXiv

An initial set of science white papers highlighting transformational science that can be achieved with a next-generation VLA.

Inaugural ngVLA Technical Workshop

This workshop focused on science opportunities and enabling technologies for a next-generation cm-to-mm interferometer. The principal conclusion from this workshop was that the technical requirements for achieving a scientifically transformational ngVLA demand only a plausible extrapolation of current technologies.