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GBT Operations & Commissioning Meeting

13 June 2008

GB137 and by video-con from CV-Conf

AGENDA

• Upcoming Activities -- Carl
• Operations
  • Scheduling Status -- Carl
  • Observing News -- 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
  • PTCS program -- Marty
  • CICADA program -- John
  • Ka-band Rx / Zpectrometer -- Galen
  • K-band Focal Plane Array -- Steve
  • Other Project Notes
• Upcoming Meetings
• Any other Business

Upcoming Activities -- Carl

Operations

Scheduling Status -- Carl

Observing News -- Ron

We supported 15 projects in 38 observing sessions. This is by far the fewest projects we've run in many years yet the number of observing sessions is on the high side of typical. The telescope was also scheduled for 41 hrs of maintenance and 2.5 hrs of PTCS tests. Lost time was 7.8 hrs (6.1%) and was dominated by a single problem:

• PF2 MCB (2 instances) - 7.4 hrs
• Astrid (Moon ephemeris) - 0.3 hrs
• Others (Az transducer, Spec Proc) - 0.1 hrs

Of the 14 operator shifts, only 5 had any lost-time problems. Note that we didn't have a single problem this week with Subreflector X1/X2 deltas. There was one instance when an observer didn't show up and the previous observer continued with their project. The observer may have sent us word well ahead of time that they couldn't take the time so the problem may have been on our part.

GBT Telescope Operations -- Bob

• We've had good weather for painting this week.
• We lifted wear plates 44 and 45 to inspect the teflon. These plates had 9 months of service. The sheets were intact everywhere except 3 inches on each end, which had worn. Some pitting or fretting was seen for about 1/2 inch on either side of the joints. Based on this inspection, we will replace all of the teflon this summer. Water appears to enter at the joints, not down the threads of the bolts as had been originally thought. We coated the ends of the plates with the same sealant we use on the bolts to help reduce this. Track covers will greatly reduce water ingress further.

Mechanical Division Operations -- Dennis

• See http://wiki.gb.nrao.edu/bin/view/Mechanical/WebHome for shop work schedule - updated 5/28/08

Microwave Electronics Operations -- Steve

• Problems with the MCB bus were attributed to PF2 power supply and repaired.
• Currently the PF1 is being calibrated with expectations of completion by June 16.
• Identified two beacons for holography.
• Completed majority of holography system characterization.

Digital Electronics Operations -- Randy

• Assisted in diagnosing and repairing MCB problems.

RFI Group Operations -- Carla

Software Operations -- Amy

• Operational Support:
  • Resolved issue relating to the SCU servo year load/recall during initialization.
• PlanOfRecordC42008

Computing and Network Operations -- Chris

Business Services -- Mike

43m Operations -- Glen

• Thanks to Ops, Engineering, the Antenna Mechanics and Preston, we were able to swap in (and out) Rohit and Rich's test feed.
• The feed operated over the entire frequency range 0.5 to 2.5 GHz. However there were ups and downs in the system temperature.
• Normal spacecraft tracking Tuesday through Friday
• More pulsar tests on Friday
• MIT/LL is finishing the Kildhal feed measurements and intends to re-install it during the first week in July.

Project and Development Work

Dynamic Scheduling -- Karen

• Accomplishments:
  • Completing second week of release without any major incidents
  • Have made a number of improvements to the scheduling and project pages
• Coming up:
  • Further improvements to the system,
  • Add enhancements to ease the scheduling process
• Concerns
  • Project friends really do need to look through the details of the project of which they are responsible to determine if the minimum project time is appropriate or if it could be lowered with no loss of science.

MUSTANG -- Brian

• Successful Green Bank team meeting

PTCS program -- Marty

• Servo
  • Isolated cause of servo resonance issue as instability/ringing in rate loop
  • Need to re-run 1/2 track power with additional buffers and logging points
  • SCU PLC integration tests complete - Acceptance testing next week
• Pointing
  • error uncovered in Kim's quadrant detector model which Kim and Paul R. are now working to resolve
• Holography
  • Preliminary work identifying good CW signals from broadcast satellites.
  • Found two satellites that had very strong and fairly stable tones (Solidaridad II, and Galaxy 4R). Galaxy 28 was also observed.

CICADA program -- John

• Work continues on synchronous design
• Beginning work on asynchronous design for future spectrometers/pulsar machines
• Ron Duplain submitted a paper to SPIE.

Ka-band Rx / Zpectrometer -- Galen

• Unable to test for the ripple seen by A. Harris due to unavailability of spectrum analyzer. Tests rescheduled for next week.

K-band Focal Plane Array -- Steve

• Constructed a plan for component and system testing this week(this will commence next week)
• Interview for the Project Scientist.

Other Project Notes

• Project wiki created for GB Magnetometer proposed project: https://wikio.nrao.edu/bin/view/GBT/GreenBankMagnetometer

Upcoming Meetings

• Quarterly planning meeting Tuesday, June 17 from 10-noon
• AUI board meeting is here next week (June 18, 19)
• NSF AUI review team here August 27 & 28

Any other Business

-- RonMaddalena - 12 Jun 2008