The Fast Track Channel (FTC)

Since period 117, ESO has moved to a Yearly Cycle (YC) for its regular call for proposals, as a result of recommendations from the Time Allocation Woking Group (TAWG). These include the parallel introduction of a Fast Track Channel (FTC) to compensate for the increased length of the time between calls for proposals (see Patat et al. 2024).

The Fast Track Channel is intended to enable rapid access for new and timely scientific ideas, not to provide an alternative route for proposals that were unsuccessful in the previous regular cycle. The Fast Track Channel is intended to enable rapid access for new and timely scientific ideas, not to provide an alternative route for proposals that were unsuccessful in the previous regular cycle.

The Call for Proposals contains information regarding the offered modes and instruments both for the main cycle (P117) and the FTC. It is the binding document for the science policies.

There are no scientific constraints for proposal eligibility to the FTC. However, resubmissions of a proposal rejected in the previous regular YC is not allowed. Further restrictions may be imposed (instruments, RA ranges, conditions…) depending on the status of the execution queues.

FTC proposals are evaluated using the same Distributed Peer Review (DPR) system used for some of the proposals submitted to the regular YC.

More information and FAQs can be found here.

A recording of a Town Hall meeting held on May 20th, 2026 is also available on our YouTube channel: