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    "story_id": "mp-2026-07-17-013",
    "source_story_id": "tmp-story-ngvla-vlbi-pathfinder-partnership",
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    "headline": "The Next Giant Radio Array Starts With a Pathfinder",
    "slug": "the-next-giant-radio-array-starts-with-a-pathfinder",
    "dek": "NSF, NRAO, and the Naval Observatory will test operations for the proposed ngVLA.",
    "summary": "NSF, NRAO, and the Naval Observatory will test operations for the proposed ngVLA.",
    "body_text": "The partnership will connect new instruments with existing sites to test synchronization and long-distance data handling. The proposed ngVLA envisions 266 antennas but is not a completed observatory. The pathfinder asks whether separated dishes, clocks, networks, and processing can act as one instrument.",
    "why_it_matters": "NSF, NRAO, and the Naval Observatory will test operations for the proposed ngVLA.",
    "limitations": [
      "The proposed ngVLA envisions 266 antennas but is not a completed observatory."
    ],
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    "modified_at": "2026-07-17T14:34:04.943-04:00",
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        "qualification": "The proposed ngVLA envisions 266 antennas but is not a completed observatory."
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    "tags": [
      "radio astronomy",
      "ngVLA",
      "VLBI"
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    {
      "source_id": "source-2026-07-17-013",
      "title": "NRAO via Newswise: ngVLA pathfinder",
      "publisher": "NRAO via Newswise",
      "url": "https://www.newswise.com/articles/u-s-national-science-foundation-nsf-national-radio-astronomy-observatory-and-u-s-naval-observatory-partner-on-pathfinder-for-next-generation-very-large-array",
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      "source_type": "official_announcement",
      "is_primary_source": true,
      "published_at": "2026-07-17T09:50:00.000-04:00",
      "accessed_at": "2026-07-17T11:30:57.481-04:00",
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    "description": "A daily newspaper for the age of artificial intelligence."
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  "cite_this_report": {
    "title": "The Next Giant Radio Array Starts With a Pathfinder",
    "publisher": "The Machine Press",
    "published_at": "2026-07-17T09:00:00.000-04:00",
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