This proposal requests funds from the NSF/CEDAR program to initiate an engineering feasibility study for some elements of the Polar Cap Observatory (PCO). This design study will strongly benefit the CEDAR community in promoting the concept of a Class I facility, and will begin the "Next Step-An Upper Atmospheric Initiative for the 1990's." Completion of the design study in 1991 will better define the cost of realizing the PCO, and will permit the issuance of an annoucement of opportunity for instrument and observatory construction in 1992. With such a schedule, PCO operations could begin as early as 1995, thereby supporting and complementing the major activities of the NASA ISTP program and broader "Global Change" initiatives.***//
