NSF FY 1995 Budget Request: Major Research Equipment
The National Science Foundation has requested a 34.6 percent increase for the Major Research Equipment Account for fiscal year 1995. This increase of $18.00 million would bring funding up to $70.00 million. Funding would support two major projects: the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) and the Gemini 8-Meter Optical/Infrared Telescopes. In previous years, this funding was through the Research and Related Activities appropriation.
LIGO. FY 1993 (last year) funding: $20 million; FY 1994 Current Plan: $35.00 million; FY 1995 Request: $50.00 million.
Gemini Telescopes. FY 1993 funding: $14.07 million; FY 1994 Current Plan: $17.00 million; FY 1995 Request: $20.00 million.
In the budget document provided to Congress, NSF states that the additional LIGO funding “will permit the project to progress toward completion of construction and a transition to operations during FY 1998. (Additional funding for research and development is provided through the Physics Subactivity of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Activity in the R&RA account.)” A land access agreement has been completed for the Washington state site; land acquisition negotiations in Louisiana are in progress. Installation is scheduled to be completed in Louisiana in FY 1998, and in Washington in FY 1999.
Regarding the Gemini Telescopes, NSF states that the FY 1995 funding “will permit the international partnership to move forward according to currently planned schedules.” NSF is providing a total of $88.00 million for this project, with the rest contributed by other countries. First Light for the U.S. telescope is scheduled for July,1998; the Chilean telescope should be two years after.
Note two other projects of a similar magnitude: the Green Bank Telescope and the High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Total funding for Green Bank was provided in a prior year budget. Completion is schedule for late 1995. The High Magnetic Field Laboratory is nearing completion; it will be funded through the Materials Research Subactivity in FY 1995 (see FYI #25.)
