The ULTRASAT Science Operations Center (SOC) will be located at the WIS, and will support all scientific aspects of the ULTRASAT mission, including observation planning, data reduction and alerts. The SOC interfaces the Ground Control Segment (GCS) at IAI, which is responsible for all direct communications with the ULTRASAT spacecraft. The GCS will acquire the spacecraft after separation from the host vehicle and maintain continuous communication through a ground antenna. The GCS is currently controlling several missions in GEO and LEO and has trained personnel and well-established protocols for this activity.
The SOC will plan and schedule in advance the survey observations and all-sky UV imaging (see modes of operations). In addition, the SOC will receive real-time alerts from several sources (mainly GW events, though GRB, TDE, and neutrinos triggers are also under consideration). The SOC will analyse the relevancy (meeting predefined thresholds) and feasibility (e.g., target visibility, spacecraft power and communication) of the trigger, and will send a new immediate ToO observing plan to the GCS. Observations will start within 15 minutes from the time the trigger was received at the SOC.
The GCS will distribute the science and telemetry data to SOC for real time processing, calibration, and archiving. The SOC will issue public alerts of new transients, for both survey and ToO observations, within 15 minutes of image capture. All other ULTRASAT data products will be made available via periodic data releases (DRs) following full calibration and verification; The proprietary period will be 12 months. Members of the ULTRASAT collaboration and the science working groups will have immediate access to all ULTRASAT data products.
The SOC will plan and schedule in advance the survey observations and all-sky UV imaging (see modes of operations). In addition, the SOC will receive real-time alerts from several sources (mainly GW events, though GRB, TDE, and neutrinos triggers are also under consideration). The SOC will analyse the relevancy (meeting predefined thresholds) and feasibility (e.g., target visibility, spacecraft power and communication) of the trigger, and will send a new immediate ToO observing plan to the GCS. Observations will start within 15 minutes from the time the trigger was received at the SOC.
The GCS will distribute the science and telemetry data to SOC for real time processing, calibration, and archiving. The SOC will issue public alerts of new transients, for both survey and ToO observations, within 15 minutes of image capture. All other ULTRASAT data products will be made available via periodic data releases (DRs) following full calibration and verification; The proprietary period will be 12 months. Members of the ULTRASAT collaboration and the science working groups will have immediate access to all ULTRASAT data products.