The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is now making the transition from Construction to Operations. Rubin Observatory would like to thank individuals who are making in-kind contributions to the System Integration, Test, and Commissioning (SIT-Com) effort (SITCOMTN-050), and to share plans for the conclusion of the Construction-era SIT-Com in-kind contribution programs, as well as the mechanism for in-kind contributions during Operations.
The SIT-Com in-kind contribution programs will continue through the start of Regular Alert Production and the release of Data Preview 2 via the Early Science Program. The Data Preview 2 release is currently forecast for mid 2026, and is expected to include a comprehensive set of data products based on all science-grade data from LSSTCam on-sky commissioning. At that time, the SIT-Com in-kind contribution programs will formally end. Following a brief grace period, by default, Rubin Observatory will then begin the process of offboarding the SIT-Com in-kind contribution program participants from the Project team who are not formally continuing into Operations. The offboarding process will include closing out accounts that were provided to program participants to specifically support their in-kind commissioning work (e.g., USDF, Rubin Observatory Slack workspace). For planning purposes, a nominal date for the end of the grace period is 30 September 2026.
Rubin Observatory Operations will continue to administer the In-kind Contribution Program, and participants with active in-kind contributions to Rubin Observatory Operations will continue in the program. Individuals making only in-kind contributions with LSST science collaborations as the recipient would not retain their Rubin accounts (e.g., USDF, Rubin Observatory Slack workspace) after the end of the SIT-Com in-kind contribution programs.
For currently active contributions, there might be some restructuring of the formal reporting structure after the transition to Operations in late October.
Rubin Observatory Operations has issued an ongoing call to recipient groups within Rubin or the LSST Science Collaborations to request in-kind contributions that address their specific needs. Participants in the SIT-Com in-kind contribution programs are eligible for this process, which is open to US and Chilean teams and the existing international in-kind programs. Existing and prospective recipient groups can register their resource needs following the process described here. SIT-Com leadership is currently in communication with potential recipient groups in Rubin Observatory Operations to promote awareness of the active SIT-Com in-kind contributions and available expertise.
Participants in the SIT-Com in-kind contribution programs will be encouraged to continue their deep engagement in the Rubin science community and with Rubin Observatory, e.g., as described in the Model for Community Science (RTN-006).