The SKA Observatory, currently in the construction phase, will have two of the world’s largest radio telescopes when completed in 2028. The scale of the project introduces unique challenges for the telescope software design and implementation at all levels, from user interfacing software down to the lower-level control of individual telescope elements. The Observation Execution Tool (OET) is part of the Observation Science Operations (OSO) suite of applications and is responsible for orchestrating the highest level of telescope control through the execution of telescope control scripts. One of the main challenges for the OET is creating a design that can robustly run concurrent observations on multiple subarrays while remaining responsive to the user. The Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) development process followed by the SKA project also means the software should be allow to iterative implementation and easily accommodate new and changing requirements. This paper concentrates on the design decisions and challenges in the development of the OET, how we have solved some of the specific technical problems and details on how we remain flexible for future requirements.
The Observatory Science Operations (OSO) subsystem of the SKAO consists of a range of complex tools which will be used to propose, design, schedule and execute observations. Bridging the gap between the science and telescope domains is the key responsibility of OSO, requiring considerations of usability, performance, availability and accessibility, amongst others. This paper describes the state of the observatory software as we approach construction milestones, how the applications meet these requirements using a modern technology architecture, and challenges so far.
An indispensable part of any modern observatory's software suite is a tool for calculating on-source observing times based on a desired observational characteristic, usually the image sensitivity. The SKA, which will be the world's most sensitive radio observatory when completed, is no exception and in this talk I will introduce the SKAO Sensitivity Calculator which is currently under development. This consists of a Python back-end that receives parameters from a web-based front-end, performs the necessary calculations and returns the results – communication between the two is enabled using a stateless REST API. The front-end is written in Angular and has recently undergone a restructuring that also enhanced the tool's accessibility. The calculator currently supports observing with both the Mid and Low telescopes, contains modes for continuum and spectral-line observing and includes validation of user input. I will also discuss future development plans, including the inclusion of additional observing modes.
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