A new version, v9.0, of technote RTN-011, “Rubin Plans for an Early Science Program,” has been issued and is available at https://rtn-011.lsst.io. This new version should be cited as:
- NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory RTN-011, Rubin Plans for an Early Science Program.
This version records that the LSST formally started on 2026-06-29. It also contains updated information on the delivery schedule and contents of Data Preview 2, the phased release of prompt data products, and the initial version of the PPDB together with an update on data access services.
DP2 schedule:
DP2 will be delivered in two phases. Early DP2 (EDP2), will be released on 2026-07-27 and contains all catalog data products together with the deep coadd images, including cell-based coadds and the ShearObject catalog for the first time. DP2, expected October–December 2026, adds the visit-level images and template coadds, completing the full release. Full details and DP2-specific documentation will be available at https://dp-2.lsst.io.
Prompt data products: Prompt images (raw images, PVIs, and difference images) and prompt_source catalogs will be released nightly after the standard 80-hour embargo, expected to begin in the October–December 2026 timeframe.