2024
DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE
In January 2024 Observatory Sciences was again selected as a preferred supplier of software engineering services to Diamond Light Source, to assist in the development of software required for the Diamond II flagship beamlines. Observatory Sciences has been working with Diamond for more than 15 years. During that period OSL has provided a wide range of software services, including new software for advanced detectors, provision of documentation and training, as well as on-site personnel providing beamline software support.
2023
WIYN HYDRA MULTI-FIBRE SPECTOGRAPH
The Hydra multi-fibre spectrograph instrument on the WIYN telescope in Arizona has undergone a hardware upgrade, and Observatory Sciences is contracted to develop an upgraded software control system for the instrument.
2023
CHIMERA
Project CHIMERA, a fusion testing facility, will use EPICS control software developed by Observatory Sciences. Construction of the testing facility is being undertaken by global technical services company Jacobs, which has selected Observatory Sciences to produce the SCADA software for the CHIMERA control system.
2022
PROACTIVE R&D
Proactive R&D has contracted Observatory Sciences to create EPICS data acquisition software for the profile measurements of a LINAC being built under the responsibility of the CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) at the SNRC (Soreq Nuclear Research Center) in Israël. The French research organisation IRFU (Institute of Research into the Fundamental Laws of the Universe) is responsible for the control systems for the new LINAC.
2022
TANGO SOFTWARE SUPPORT
Observatory Sciences has signed a framework agreement with the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) to provide software development effort for the TANGO community. TANGO is the open-source device-oriented controls toolkit for use with synchrotrons, lasers, physics experiments and SCADA systems, originally developed at ESRF.
2021
EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE
Observatory Sciences has signed a new five-year framework agreement to provide software services to the European Spallation Source (ESS) project. Observatory Sciences signed its original framework agreement with ESS in 2016, so has been involved throughout the planning and early construction stages.
2020
SQUARE KILOMETRE ARRAY
Observatory Sciences has been awarded a contract to produce control software for the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), an international project that is building the world’s largest radio telescope. The SKA is composed of two large telescopes: a low frequency array in Western Australia (SKA1-Low) and a mid-frequency one in South Africa (SKA1-Mid). Each telescope consists of an array of antennas spread across remote areas of Western Australia and South Africa, with a later expansion into other African countries and Australia. The design is being led by the SKA Organisation based at Jodrell Bank, UK and supported by more than 1,000 engineers and scientists in 20 countries.
2019
DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE
In June 2019 Observatory Sciences was again selected as a preferred supplier of software engineering services to Diamond Light Source, the UK’s premier synchrotron facility. Observatory Sciences has been working with Diamond for more than 10 years. During that period we have provided a wide range of software services, including new software for advanced detectors, provision of documentation and training, as well as on-site personnel providing beamline software support.
2018
LARGE SYNOPTIC SURVEY TELESCOPE
Observatory Sciences was awarded the contract to develop the telescope control Pointing Component software for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) being constructed in Chile. The software will be used by both the Auxiliary and Main telescopes of the LSST.
2018
THIRTY METER TELESCOPE CONTROL
Observatory Sciences was awarded a contract to provide software consultancy for the Telescope Control System (TCS) for the USA’s Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT). This covers the period leading to the TCS Preliminary Design Review.
2017
EUROPEAN SOUTHERN OBSERVATORY
OSL won an open tender for the contract to maintain the software infrastructure for the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) and VLT Interferometer.
2017
MOUNT ABU OBSERVATORY TELESCOPE CONTROL
OSL was contracted by AMOS of Belgium to provide the Telescope Control System software for a new 2.5 meter aperture telescope which will be located at Mount Abu Observatory in Rajasthan India.
2017
CRYONIRSP INSTRUMENT SOFTWARE
Observatory Sciences was awarded the first of a series of contracts to provide software for the control of the CryoNIRSP (Cryogenic Near-Infrared Spectropolarimeter) instrument. This is being built by the University of Hawaii for use on the DKIST solar telescope.
2016
EUROPEAN SPALLATION SOURCE
OSL signed a Framework Agreement for the supply of control system software development services for the European Spallation Source (ESS) in Sweden. This is in partnership with the USA-based EPICS software specialists OspreyDCS.
2015
KOLKATA VECC MEDICAL CYCLOTRON
OSL was contracted by the Danish company Danfysik to produce the EPICS-based control software for 2 beamlines of a medical cyclotron being constructed by the Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre (VECC) in Kolkata, India
2013
THIRTY METER TELESCOPE CONTROL
Observatory Sciences was awarded a contract to undertake a conceptual software design for the Telescope Control System (TCS) for the USA’s Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT).
2012
SOLAR TELESCOPE MIRROR CONTROL
OSL was contracted to provide the control software for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope Primary Mirror (M1), constructed by AMOS in Belgium.
2011
JAVALAMBRE 2.5 METER TELESCOPE
Observatory Sciences was contracted to provide the control system for the 2.5m wide-field survey T250 telescope based in Spain at the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre.
2010
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SOLAR TELESCOPE HAWAII
Observatory Sciences was awarded contracts to develop the Telescope Control System and the Enclosure Control System for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope being constructed on Maiu, Hawaii.
2009
EPICS TRAINING FOR ASKAP AND ITER
Observatory Sciences undertook further software studies for the European Extremely Large Telescope project, and OSL presented EPICS training courses to ASKAP (Australia) and ITER (France).
2008
TPOINT SOFTWARE PARTNERSHIP
Observatory Sciences signed a licencing agreement with Tpoint Software, was commissioned to develop control system for the Discovery Channel Telescope, and produced a telescope control software study for the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (Texas).
2007
GLOBAL PROJECTS
Observatory Sciences undertook a study for the European Extremely Large Telescope. OSL also was brought in to assist with beamline software for the Australian Synchrotron. Observatory Sciences began work on control systems for ARIES and MAST telescopes in India, as well as being commissioned to produce control software for a telescope array being built on Magdalena Ridge, New Mexico.
2006
LARGE SYNOPTIC SURVEY TELESCOPE
Design study completed for the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope. First public training course for EPICS software.
2005
MORE CONTRACTS AWARDED
Awarded contracts for: control software for the MCAO slow focus wavefront sensor; ongoing software support at Diamond Light Source; and (from the Australian National University) on-site consultancy for Gemini South Adaptive Optics Imager.
2004
AUSTRALIAN SYNCHROTRON PROJECT
Observatory Sciences delivered EPICS training for Australian Synchrotron Project.
2004
GEMINI ADAPTIVE OPTICS DIAGNOSTICS
Observatory Sciences delivered software for diagnostic sensor systems and adaptive optics software for the Gemini telescopes.
2003
CONTRACTS SECURED
Awarded contracts for: primary mirror control software for the new VISTA telescope; control software for Diamond Light Source synchrotron systems; development of diagnostic sensor systems and adaptive optics module on Gemini telescopes; development of the control system for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope.
2001
GEMINI GMOS SOFTWARE FOR UK ATC
Gemini GMOS software was delivered to the UK ATC. Improved control system was delivered for historic telescopes at Royal Observatory, Greenwich.
2000
FIRST EPICS TRAINING COURSE
Observatory Sciences carried out its first EPICS training course.
1999
UK ATC AND UCL CONTRACTS
Awarded contracts for software development for the UK ATC and for consultancy to University College London and to the Isaac Newton Group of telescopes on the Canary Islands
1998
OBSERVATORY SCIENCES FOUNDED
Observatory Sciences Ltd was founded by 5 former members of the Royal Greenwich Observatory, following its closure by the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council. Initial work included commissioning of software for the Gemini telescopes.