TMT Foundation Documents

TMT has created a number of foundation documents to guide the design and implementation process. All of these documents are reviewed, revised, and reissued as necessary within a structured configuration control process.

The Detailed Science Case (DSC) is the highest level statement of the TMT science case. The DSC was created and is maintained by the TMT Science Advisory Committee (SAC). It provides examples of the kinds of exciting, groundbreaking science that will be enabled by a 30m telescope. Wherever possible, synergies with other major upcoming facilities (e.g. the James Webb Space Telescope and the Atacama Large Millimeter Array) are discussed. As appropriate, performance numbers (often conservative) are provided (e.g. sensitivities, integration times, spatial resolutions).
(Editors: D. Silva, P. Hickson, C. Steidel, M. Bolte)
Last update: October 2007

The Observatory Requirements Document (ORD) contains the highest level system requirements for the observatory. Top level requirements are defined for the telescope and instrumentation, summit and support facilities, environmental health and safety, and high level software. The ORD also defines site specific environmental parameters and constraints.
(Editors: G. Angeli, S. Roberts)
Last update: March 2008

The Observatory Architecture Document (OAD) defines the high-level design for the observatory, including system wide implementation details, and the subsystem decomposition. It partitions function and performance requirements among the subsystems, as necessary, to ensure the integrated systems level performance of the observatory.
(Editors: G. Angeli, S. Roberts)
Last update: March 2008

The Operations Concept Document (OCD) contains high-level site-independent operations concepts and requirements science and technical operations. Science operations concepts are grouped into a minimum cost baseline service model and a more expensive enhanced service model. It is expected that each major TMT sub-system will have a separate operation concept document that describes operations, calibration, and maintenance processes.
(Editor: D. Silva)
Last update: May 2007

In May 2007, an initial TMT Construction Proposal was created by the project and reviewed by an external advisory panel (EAP). The EAP membership is nominated by the TMT Board. This Construction Proposal will be revised and updated as TMT design and development proceeds.
(Editors: S. Dawson, S. Roberts)
Last update: September 2007