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\subsection*{Amending the Performance Period of NSF/OPP Proposal \#0944335}

Since the authoring of our NSF/OPP proposal in June 2009, entitled
``{\it High Elevation Antarctic Terahertz (HEAT) telescopes for Dome~A
 and Ridge~A}'' (\#0944335), new opportunities and changing
international priorities have suggest an
improved logistical course of action that focuses solely on the
(undeveloped) Ridge~A site.  This emphasis: (1) increases the project's
scientific merits and impact, (2) would cement an exciting joint
venture between the U.S. and Australia for site testing and science on
the high Antarctic Plateau, (3) increases the visibility of the
U.S. involvement in (terahertz) astronomy on the Plateau, and (4)
minimizes the very significant risk of ITAR-related export infringements with
our Chinese colleagues.  

\medskip

Here, at the request of our NSF program officer, we recommend that the
title of the proposal be adjusted accordingly:  ``{\it High Elevation
  Antarctic Terahertz (HEAT) telescopes for Ridge~A}'', and are
requesting a no-cost extension to the science proposal's performance
period, and accompanying deployment plan, to 4 years. 

\medskip

While increased international logistical support will be sought, RPSC has
already developed a logistics plan that includes the 2010-11 and 2011-12
deployment seasons.   However, with the deployment to Ridge~A
notionally taking place
in January 2012, the current period of performance would expire
before significant scientific results from Ridge~A would be obtained.
The scientific aims presented in the proposal would not be achieved
without a renewal proposal, which would be difficult to defend with a
scant 4 months of summer data.  In order to accomodate a
schedule with a significant science return 
and to mitigate the impact of possible delays in deployment, we are
requesting a no-cost extension in advance, to a 4 year performance period
starting July 1, 2010.  An amended budget justification follows.  The
deployment plan would be summarized as follows, with 
the first two points already included in the current RPSC logistics workup. 

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\item A deployment of the first HEAT telescope to South Pole Station
  will be made in January 2011, for a full year of testing, accessing station
  power and network resources from the Dark Sector.
\item During calendar year 2011, a second HEAT telescope (HEAT \#2) will be built and
  integrated with Plateau Observatory (PLATO) components from the University of New South
  Wales, for which (Australian) funding has been successfully
  acquired.  This standalone HEAT+PLATO unit would be deployed via Twin
  Otter aircraft from South Pole to Ridge~A in January 2012.  The original HEAT
  telescope (HEAT \#1) at South Pole would be retrograded to the U.S. for
  refurbishment and repair.  
\item In January 2013, a second Twin Otter deployment to Ridge~A will
  resupply fuel and allow the HEAT telescope (and specific PLATO
  components) to be swapped on-site. 
\item A third deployment to Ridge~A in January 2014 will be scheduled
  to retrograde the HEAT/PLATO facility.
\end{enumerate}

Focusing on a single, ideal site with two interchangeable, field-swappable
telescopes and instruments minimizes field deployment efforts and time
spent on-site.  Furthermore, the instruments can be fully tested at South
Pole Station before the remote field deployment to Ridge~A.

\medskip

A heightened focus on Ridge~A will dramatically increase the
astronomical impact of 
our proposed efforts within the proposed performance period, and has a
cleaner deployment plan that remains clear of potentially devastating
ITAR entanglements.   With the development of new HEAT telescopes and
PLATO site testing platforms 
for the high Antarctic plateau, astronomy in Antarctica is
poised to take a tremendous leap forward, rivaling airborne and space
platforms for answering a variety of fundamental and timely
questions in astronomy.   I and my team at the University of Arizona
look forward to working with the NSF, USAP, our international colleagues,
and to the opportunities and challenges that these pioneering efforts
will undoubtedly provide. 

\bigskip
\medskip
\flushright

Dr. Craig A. Kulesa

Assistant Astronomer

Steward Observatory

The University of Arizona

25 May 2010

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