January 10-16, 2009 LGS observing run

Nightly Summaries

1/11/09 UT (SWIFT-LGS engineering)
Clear and windy. Laser power 5.1-4.9 W. Seeing 4-6". Opened for 20 min. Cancelled LGS at 23:30 PST due to poor seeing and high wind.

1/12/09 UT (SWIFT-LGS science)
Clear and windy. Laser power 5.0-4.8 W. Seeing 3-4". Cancelled LGS at 23:00 PST due to poor seeing.

1/13/09 UT (SWIFT-LGS science)
Clear. Laser power 5.0 W, stable. Seeing 2.5-3.5". Halted by FAA at 18:55 PST for lack of a published NOTAM.

1/16/09 UT (PHARO-LGS science)
Clear. Laser power 5.0 W, stable. Seeing 1.0-1.6". Laser return ~100000 DN/s (requiring frequent etalon adjustments). K Strehl ~20% with bright tip/tilt stars. Observed ~20 targets. Lost 1.25 hr due to acquisition camera display problem.

1/17/09 UT (PHARO-LGS science)
Clear. Laser power 5.2-4.8 W, stable. Seeing 0.9-1.2". Laser return 60000-120000 DN/s. Observed ~20 targets. Lost 30 min due to STRATCOM "space event". A very successful final 2 nights of LGS for the semester!

All-Sky Camera

01/11/09 UT	01/12/09 UT	01/13/09 UT	01/16/09 UT	01/17/09 UT

Safety Documents

• Laser projection schedule (FAA Letter of Non-Objection):
  • 18:25:00 1/09/09 - 05:54:00 1/10/09 PST: Cancelled (contacted ZLA ARTCC & SCT TRACON at 15:45 1/9/09 PST)
  • 18:26:00 1/10/09 - 05:54:00 1/11/09 PST
  • 18:26:00 1/11/09 - 05:54:00 1/12/09 PST
  • 18:27:00 1/12/09 - 05:54:00 1/13/09 PST
  • 18:28:00 1/13/09 - 05:54:00 1/14/09 PST: Cancelled
  • 18:29:00 1/14/09 - 05:54:00 1/15/09 PST: Cancelled
  • 18:29:00 1/15/09 - 05:54:00 1/16/09 PST
  • 18:30:00 1/16/09 - 05:54:00 1/17/09 PST
• Securitas spotters are schedule to be on site 17:45-06:00 PST.
• US-STRATCOM documents:
  • LCH Reports Handbook (rev 8/06), LCH Contact Information
  • 1/11/09 UT P/A request: 1/11/09 UT open windows
  • 1/12/09 UT P/A request: 1/12/09 UT open windows
  • 1/13/09 UT P/A request: 1/13/09 UT open windows
  • 1/16/09 UT P/A request: 1/16/09 UT open windows
  • 1/17/09 UT P/A request: 1/17/09 UT open windows, stratcom_windows_090117_v2.txt

Personnel schedule

	Wed 1/7	Thu 1/8	Fri 1/9	Sat 1/10	Sun 1/11	Mon 1/12	Tue 1/13	Wed 1/14	Thu 1/15	Fri 1/16
Bouchez			Arrive late	X	X	X			X	X
Peffer				X	X	X			X	X
Roberts			X	X
Velur	X	X						X	?

Test Plans and Procedures

Please post your test plans on the Test Plan Library page, and add a link below.

• AO setup
  • AO system internal focus: doc, pdf
  • AO bench setup and checkout: doc, pdf
• BTO procedures
  • BTO setup (v2.4): doc, pdf
  • BTO alignment (v2.4): doc, pdf
  • BTO alignment, abbreviated version (v1.0): doc, pdf
  • BTO shutdown (v1.1): doc, pdf
• Laser procedures
  • Laser startup (v2.0): doc, pdf
  • Laser shutdown (v1.0): doc, pdf
• Observing procedures:
  • LGS science night checklist (v1.1): doc, pdf
  • NGS Checkout (v3.1): doc, pdf
  • LGS Checkout (v1.0): doc, pdf
  • LGS target acquisition (v4.0): doc, pdf

Closed-dome tests (1/11/09 UT):

• Tune non-common path errors on SWIFT imaging camera (650nm & IR dichroics).
• Record WFS dark frames for noise analysis.
• Investigate TCS coordinates recorded in SWIFT header during open-loop tracking.