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GBT Operations & Commissioning Meeting

01 February 2008

GB137 and by video-con from CV-Conf

AGENDA

• Upcoming Activities -- Carl
• Operations
  • Scheduling Status -- Carl
  • Observing News -- Ron
  • Commissioning Plans -- Ron
  • GBT Telescope Operations -- Bob
  • Mechanical Division Operations -- Dennis
  • Microwave Electronics Operations -- Steve
  • Digital Electronics Operations -- Randy
  • RFI Group Operations -- Carla
  • Software Operations -- Amy
  • Computing and Network Operations -- Chris
  • Business Services -- Mike
  • 43m Operations -- Glen
• Project and Development Work
  • Dynamic Scheduling -- Karen
  • MUSTANG -- Brian/Marty
  • PTCS program -- John/Todd/Marty
  • CICADA program -- John
  • Ka-band Rx / Zpectrometer -- Galen
  • K-band Focal Plane Array -- Steve
  • Other Project Notes
• Any other Business

Upcoming Activities -- Carl

Operations

Scheduling Status -- Carl

Last Week
=========

Observations for proposals
   GBT07C-094, BB240     , GBT07C-040, 
   GBT08A-043, GBT07A-087, GBT06B-042, 
   GBT07A-066, GBT07C-020, GBT05B-030, 
   GBT07A-089, GBT07C-054, GBT07A-034, 
   GBT08A-014, GBT07C-033, GBT05C-043, 
   GBT07C-016, GBT07A-029, GBT07B-029, 
   GBT05C-048, GBT07A-071, GBT08A-072, 
   GBT03C-028, GBT07A-051

Completed proposals
   GBT06B-042, GBT07C-020, GBT05B-030, 
   GBT07A-089, GBT05C-043, GBT07C-016, 
   GBT05C-048, GBT03C-028, GBT07C-043
   GBT07C-080, GBT07C-038

Next Week
=========
Observations scheduled for **
  BR125      [F  ] Tim Robishaw
       The New Extragalactic Magnetometer: Zeeman        
       Splitting in OH Megamasers                        
  GBT07C-094 [F  ] Steve Ostro
       Radar Imaging of Asteroid 2007 TU24 During Its    
       1.4-Lunar-Distance Approach                       
  BB240      [FP ] Geoff Bower
       RIPL: Radio Interferometric PLanet Search         
  GBT08A-077 [  B] Fernando Camilo
       Studying the magnetar XTE J1810-197               
  GBT08A-011 [  B] Maura McLaughlin
       Continued Radio Timing Observations of RRAT       
       Sources                                           
  GBT07A-087 [F  ] Paul Demorest
       Detecting nHz Gravitational Radiation using a     
       Pulsar Timing Array                               
  GBT08A-056 [ P ] Simon Dicker
       Observations with MUSTANG on the GBT at 3.3mm     
  GBT08A-034 [  B] Bob Rood
       The Abundance Gradient in the Milky Way           
  GBT07A-066 [ P ] Jim Braatz
       The Megamaser Cosmology Project                   
  GBT08A-057 [  B] Jennifer Donovan
       A Continuing Search for Wet Mergers in a Dry      
       Sample                                            
  GBT08A-014 [F  ] Jay Lockman
       On the Trail of Smith's Cloud                     
  GBT07A-029 [  B] Dick Crutcher
       A Definitive Test of Star Formation Theory        
  BG170      [F  ] Gabriele Giovannini
       Jet and Counter­Jet emission in NGC 315           
  GBT08A-072 [  B] Helene Courtois
       Bulk motions of filaments in the Local Universe   
  GBT07A-094 [  B] Scott Ransom
       Continued Timing of the 33 Millisecond and Binary 
       Pulsars in Terzan 5                               
  GBT07A-040 [ P ] Larry Weintraub
       Detecting the Origin of Arcminute Scale CMB       
       Anisotropy                                        
  GBT07A-051 [ PB] Mike Hollis
       A GBT Legacy Survey of Prebiotic Molecules Toward 
       SgrB2(N-LMH) and TMC-1                            
** Scheduled as F-ixed, P-rimary, B-ackup

Contact Information for 02/14/2008 - 02/28/2008
=======================================
Proposal   PI                 Bands Email [NRAO contact]    
---------- ------------------ ----- --------------------
GBT08A-086 Philip Nicholson   S     nicholso@astro.cornell.edu [Frank Ghigo]
GBT08A-020 Jason Hessels      3     jhessels@science.uva.nl [Scott Ransom]
BB240      Geoff Bower        X     gbower@astro.berkeley.edu []
GBT05A-040 Andrew Baker       B     ajbaker@physics.rutgers.edu [Dana Balser]
GBT08A-032 Lynn Matthews      L     lmatthew@cfa.harvard.edu [Jules Harnett]
GBT08A-065 Don Campbell       S     campbell@astro.cornell.edu [Frank Ghigo]
GBT08A-076 Nissim Kanekar     3     nkanekar@nrao.edu [Paul Ruffle]
GBT08A-054 Esteban Araya      K     earaya@nrao.edu [D.J. Pisano]
GBT07C-084 Laura Kasian       LS    kasian@physics.ubc.ca [Scott Ransom]
GBT08A-077 Fernando Camilo    S     fernando@astro.columbia.edu [Scott Ransom]
GBT08A-066 John Bally         K     John.Bally@colorado.edu [Larry Morgan]
GBT07A-087 Paul Demorest      S     pdemores@nrao.edu [Scott Ransom]
GBT08A-034 Bob Rood           X     rtr@virginia.edu [Dana Balser]
GBT07A-066 Jim Braatz         K     jbraatz@nrao.edu [Jim Braatz]
GBT08A-056 Simon Dicker       P     simon.dicker@gmail.com [Brian Mason]
GBT08A-057 Jennifer Donovan   L     jen@astro.columbia.edu [Jules Harnett]
GBT07C-033 Jason Hessels      S     jhessels@science.uva.nl [Scott Ransom]
GBT08A-003 Steve Curran       3     sjc@phys.unsw.edu.au [Carl Bignell]
GBT06C-033 Andy Harris        B     harris@astro.umd.edu [Karen O'Neil]
GBT07B-025 Scott Ransom       S     sransom@nrao.edu [Scott Ransom]
GBT05C-047 Thomas Greve       B     tgreve@submm.caltech.edu [Dana Balser]
GBT07A-029 Dick Crutcher      L     crutcher@uiuc.edu [Toney Minter]
GBT07B-029 Michael Kramer     L     mkramer@jb.man.ac.uk [Scott Ransom]
GBT07A-050 Claudia Cyganowski K     ccyganow@astro.wisc.edu [Toney Minter]
GBT07C-060 Fernando Camilo    S     fernando@astro.columbia.edu [Scott Ransom]
GBT07A-040 Larry Weintraub    B     lcw@astro.caltech.edu [Brian Mason]
GBT07A-051 Mike Hollis        3468A jan.m.hollis@nasa.gov [Larry Morgan]
GBT07C-082 James Aguirre      3     jaguirre@nrao.edu [Brian Mason]

Scheduled hours [backup]
========================
Category/Month-> January   February  March     April     
    Astronomy ~  620       611 [433] 647 [554] 627 [484] 
  Maintenance ~   71         4 [102]   4 [102]   9 [102] 
  Test & Comm ~   54        60 [047]  60 [034]  49 [040] 
  Un-assigned ~    0        21        34        39       

Proposal Checkouts #[hrs]*
=========================
Awaiting checkout - 0[0]
  Active checkout - 0[0]
          On Hold - 0[0]
         Schedule - 114[3457]
        Completed - 537[6566]
* All but completed queue applies to GBT only proposals


Current backlog of Reg & RRS proposals [hours prior to 07C*] = 777
   [2005:88(7), 2006:269(10), 2007:420(20)]
   Backlog includes 354 hrs of monitoring projects
                    181 hrs of vlbi projects
Total time to discharge [hours] = 5502
   Includes 489 hours++ of monitoring (not Large or Spec) after trimester 07C
            2358 hours of Regular & RRS proposals 
            2786 hours of Large proposals 
            358 hours of VLBI proposals 
* Includes projects that are on hold for trimester 07C
++ Time is counted in other break down as well. 07C

Observing News -- Ron

We supported 23 projects in 32 observing sessions, including a radar run and a VLB run. The telescope schedule included 21.5 hrs for maintenance, 7.5 hrs of PTCS tests, 2.5 hrs for Ka-band NOD tests for Zpectrometer, and 0.5 hrs for receiver checkout. Lost time was 6.1 hrs (~4.2%)almost 80% of which was due to the weather. The major causes of lost time were:

• Winds (6 instances) : 4.8 hrs
• RFI (Ku-band geostationary satellites) : 0.5 hrs
• M&C manager coordination : 0.3 hrs
• Antenna wrap : 0.2 hrs
• Astrid : 0.2 hrs
• Spectral Processor : 0.2 hrs

Amy's GFM fix seems to have worked out nicely.

Because of the new policy concerning running at low temperatures, I will begin keeping records of how long we spend at half speed. This week, we ran at half speed for 26.8 hrs. Note that last week's worries concerning the half slew rates and the 'zone of avoidance' at the zenith were actually moot due to the protection already built into the antenna manager.

In other news, the Monday afternoon support scientist meetings seem to be well appreciated. Paul has organized a web repository that will hold our important notes. Also, Carla, Wes and I have started discussing ways in which we can augment the semi-monthly Tcal observations with short, low impact, controlled RFI observations so as to generate a historical record of RFI. These plans will be discussed at the weekly support meeting once the plans gel a bit more. Note that we'll have a good number of radar runs over the next two weeks.

Commissioning Plans -- Ron

The Ka-band NOD tests mentioned above were discussed at last week's meeting. Zpec will be reinstalled next week with tests starting the following weekend.

If winds behave themselves, Mustang should be in use this weekend. Yesterday, a policy was developed concerning the use of the feed defroster while observing with Mustang. I will distribute the policy sometime today.

GBT Telescope Operations -- Bob

• The big event this week was the lifting/inspecting/replacing of wear plates 5 and 6. The condition of the wear plates, base plates, and bolts was excellent. The anti-fretting layer was intact. We saw some corrosion, but no fretting. We also had a discussion of some of the grout and concrete filler material changes with Jeff Berkley. He is passing pictures and descriptions on to Five Star to seek recommendations. Water aggrevates the problems, so we will likely design some manner of track covers and install them. We may also undertake some remediation measures this summer. We will wait a few more months to inspect some other plates.

Mechanical Division Operations -- Dennis

Microwave Electronics Operations -- Steve

nothing to report.

Digital Electronics Operations -- Randy

RFI Group Operations -- Carla

Software Operations -- Amy

• Operational Support:
  • Responded to some reports of Spectrometer issues, but turned out to be RFI.
  • Looked into report of bug when AutoPeak'ing around a Galactic source. Turns out that the slew to the Galactic source was aborted and when the AutoPeak started, it was no where near the desired source. Bad Astrid behavior traced to bug - should not be able to submit scheduling blocks unless the system is in the 'Ready' state. This will be fixed in the upcoming release.
  • Looked into report of GFM data processing problems with Ka data. Found bug in Data Processing tab of the Options dialog. Fixed and patched into current release.
  • Added GPIB device driver support to anubis for rxlab work.
• PlanOfRecordC12008
• Next software release planned for the week of February 11, 2008 during a maintenance day.
  • 05 Feb 2008 - Integration Testing, 16:30-20:30 (paired with 07 Feb)
  • 06 Feb 2008 - Integration Testing, 16:30-20:30 (paired with 08 Feb)
  • 07 Feb 2008 - Integration Testing, 16:30-20:30 (paired with 05 Feb)
  • 08 Feb 2008 - Integration Testing, 16:30-20:30 (paired with 06 Feb)
  • 09 Feb 2008 - Regression Testing, 18:00-24:00 (paired with 11 Feb)
  • 11 Feb 2008 - Regression Testing, 18:00-24:00 (paired with 09 Feb)

Computing and Network Operations -- Chris

Business Services -- Mike

43m Operations -- Glen

Project and Development Work

Dynamic Scheduling -- Karen

MUSTANG -- Brian/Marty

• Items/actions completed:
  • Additional testing of manager with tower and crate
  • Reviewed plan and expected status of each MR at end of cycle (15-Feb)

• Items/actions in progress:
  • Outline of observation plans for February observations
  • Continuing research into data timestamping issue
  • Research into vibration noise as a function of elevation
  • Drafting of housekeeping document/spec (Simon)

• Near-term activities (next ~2 weeks):
  • Sponsor tests of manager software and integration

PTCS program -- John/Todd/Marty

• Items/actions completed:
  • Team meeting notes and recommendations circulated to participants for comment
  • The script path to generate a new PFM5 pointing model has been tested end-to-end. Instructions updated on wiki.
  • A new python script has been written to collate heterodyne Out-of-focus holography data and remove linear baselines. Testing is ongoing.
  • Servo hardware and systems familiarization session was held with the servo team
  • Azimuth track scan recorded on Thursday (following the inspection on Tuesday). Analysis pending.

• Near-term activities (next ~2 weeks):
  • Continue PTCS planning and prepare for full team meeting(s?)
  • Refine Servo Project software requirements
  • Update documentation/wikis (>2 wks)
  • Continued development of Out-of-focus holography with Mustang

CICADA program -- John

• Work continues on GUPPI gateware.
  • Jason and Randy ran into a snag relating to the clocks on the BEE2 boards. The clock was not running at what it should have been, thereby messing up the sample flow and processing.
  • Glen started work on the far end of the machine, where the 10 Gb Ethernet hooks up, and is working backward to the point where it will join up with Randy and Jason's efforts. John is supposed to help.
  • Software proceeding apace in CV, with Ron working on control software, and Paul and Scott working on data collection software to take the stream of data from the machine. John is supposed to be helping here, too.
  • Worked with XILINX contact to help WVU get their software downgraded to sufficiently ancient versions to work with CASPER libraries.
  • Held tele-seance with friendly CASPER ghosts to get secrets of The Green Blocks from them.
• Work on the rack to hold all the hardware continues with a PCHS student helping out for a mentorship project. J.D. has fabricated a nice interface plate so we can mount the iBOBs in enclosures and still connect to the serial ports and JTAG port, and we can set jumpers via DIP switch. Very spiffy!
• Ordered UPS for the rack. In the next week or so we will mount the UPS, the BEE, the iBOB chassis, and "beef" in the rack, and install it in the tape room upstairs. Then we'll have to make a nameplate for it, as it will then be the GUPPI.

Ka-band Rx / Zpectrometer -- Galen

• Upcoming activities: Zpectrometer back on GBT next week, second maintenance day, RCO on Saturday the 9th.

K-band Focal Plane Array -- Steve

• Conceptual Design Review set for February 27 and 28 in GB
• A preliminary review will be held February 21 in GB

Other Project Notes

Any other Business

-- RichardPrestage - 31 Jan 2008