Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 February 2011
The calibration of the Radial Velocity Zero-Point (RVZP) of the Radial VelocitySpectrometer (RVS) will be performed with the help of Radial Velocity (RV) standard starsand asteroids. A full-sky list of RV standard stars candidates has been built for thispurpose within the Development Unit (DU) 640 of the Gaia DPAC Consortium. A ground-basedcampaign of RV observations has been initiated to eliminate unsuitable candidates.Simulations have also been performed in order to estimate in advance the number of RVstandard stars and asteroids crossing the RVS field of view. These standard stars andasteroids will also be very helpful for controlling any harmful effect (especially the CCDradiation damage) on calibration and RVZP during the lifetime of the Gaia project.Kinematic RV are expected to be published at the end of the project for the brighteststars, taking into account gravitational redshift and convective shifts for the linespresent in the RVS spectral wavelength range.