UVIT science calibration and planning for the ASTROSAT observatory

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The Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) is a collaborative project between the Indian and Canadian space agencies. It is expected to be launched in 2008, for a 5-year minimum mission, along with X-ray instruments as part of the ASTROSAT orbiting observatory.ASTROSAT will measure the flux of celestial objects in various high energy bands, complementary to ground-based spectral bands.The science objectives are broad, extending from individual hot stars, neutron stars, star-forming regions ...  to active galactic nuclei, addressing fundamental questions about stellar and galactic evolution, and cosmology. The Canadian Space Agency funds the fabrication of the photon-counting detectors for UVIT. The Canadian science team, which consists of 15 astronomers, will be responsible for the scientific calibration of these detectors. This includes the preparation of the calibration laboratory at the University of Calgary, design and performance of scientific calibration of the detectors, integration of the calibration data into the Indian ground system, participation in testing of full instrument in India, and contribution to the scientific commissioning and early science observations after launch.  Furthermore, the Canadian science team will participate in the planning of the scientific programs for UVIT and the X-ray instruments on ASTROSAT and will set up the peer review system to allow access to ASTROSAT by all Canadian scientists. This Special Research Opportunity proposal is to fund the Canadian science team for its activities with the UVIT. This work will involve a number of graduate students and post-docs for the 3-year period of the grant.