P. Di Marcantonio, H. C. Stempels, V. Alberti, M. Amate, V. Baldini, F. Baron, P Berio, J. Brynnel, A. Cabral, B. Chazelas, L. Christensen, M. Debus, C. Füßlein, W. Gaessler, O. Gabella, E. Gallo, D. Giannone, R Gillespie, E. Giro, Y. Ivanisenko, H. Korhonen, I. C. Leão, A. Marconi, P. Maslowski, M. A. Monteiro, N. Neri, E. Pinna, M. Porru, M. Rainer, C. Selmi, F. Sortino, R. Spiga, A. Tozzi, B. Wehbe, A. Zanutta, J. Zimara
Abstract
The ESO/ELT high-resolution spectrograph ANDES (ArmazoNes high-dispersion Echelle Spectrograph) is approaching the completion of its Preliminary Design Phase. Conceived as the ultra-stable, broadband high-resolution spectrograph for the Extremely Large Telescope, ANDES will enable wavelength coverage from the U to the K band. Its primary science drivers include the detailed characterization of exoplanet atmospheres and all investigations requiring extreme precision in radial-velocity measurements, among others.
Achieving these stringent scientific requirements demands complex and distributed architecture: ANDES is composed of four fiber-fed spectrographs and several auxiliary modules, including the Front-End, a dedicated Single-Conjugate Adaptive Optics system, and a comprehensive Calibration Unit. These elements, collectively termed subsystems, are jointly orchestrated by the control and data-processing software. They are designed to efficiently collect and feed the telescope beam to the spectrographs, enabling multiple observational modes.
ANDES's technical and organizational complexity requires a large international effort: the instrument is being developed by a consortium of 13 nations and 24 institutes worldwide, which naturally presents a significant challenge for project management.
While the overall management framework follows the established philosophy presented in previous contributions, this paper focuses specifically on the management approach adopted during the Preliminary Design Phase. In particular, we detail the "subsystem-centric" review strategy, where the overall preliminary design review process was broken down into a series of staggered subsystem-level reviews. We present an in-depth analysis of the lessons learned from implementing this decentralized review methodology, examining the advantages and disadvantages encountered. We conclude by outlining the key recommendations and adjustments derived from this experience for efficiently progressing into the next phases of the project.
Keywords
ANDES, Astronomical instruments project management, High-resolution spectrograph, High-precision spectrograph, ELT instrumentation
Modeling, Systems Engineering, and Project Management for Astronomy XII
Sébastien Elias Egner , Scott Roberts
SPIE
Proceedings of SPIE
Volume 14152, Page 13
2026 September
