_                    
                                                         |_|                   
      V   V   SSSS   OOO   PPPP                 \__      |_|      __/          
      V   V  S      O   O  P   P                   --____/ \____--             
      V   V   SSS   O   O  PPPP                    _ _ _ --- _ _ _             
       V V       S  O   O  P                      |_|_|_|  @|_|_|_|            
        V    SSSS    OOO   P                             o-o                   
                                                          /                    
      ***  N    E    W    S  ***                        <)                     
 

VSOP MODES IN FS9.1

Good news from the NASA/GSFC team developing the Field System version 9.1 (which will be used to control the MkIV DAS). Recent VLBA mode fringe tests produced fringes in all channels in all modes. Two scans in the standard VSOP mode (two 16MHz channels, two-bit sampled) were among the successful tests. Yet another step towards real VSOP fringes!

TECHNICAL EVALUATION OF PROPOSALS

The technical review of proposals has been carried out at ISAS over the last two weeks. A few instances were found where proposers had requested observations at times when they cannot be done, but these were a small minority. The review committee has flagged areas common to a number of proposals that require further checking for feasibility. These are now under investigation.

RECORDERS

Rick Wietfeldt, from the Canadian Institute for Space and Terrestrial Science visited ISAS last week for discussions on VSOP <--> S2 format translation and related compatibility issues. These brought to light a number of previously unrecognized problems, and, fortunately, possible solutions to many of these. Rick and Kawaguchi-san came to a clear understanding that there would be no difficulty in making the planned S2 to VSOP tape translator bi-directional, (i.e. S2-->VSOP and VSOP-->S2). The most disappointing aspect of Rick's visit was the discovery that he had never seen, or even heard of, the VSOP news!

KONDANKAI

The Japanese domestic VLBI community gathered at ISAS this last week for their annual meeting. One session of the three-day meeting was set aside for presentations on the VSOP project, and participants were given the opportunity to tour the integration test facilities at ISAS.

CORRECTION

In last issue's description of the Mitaka correlator, both occurrences of 24 should be replaced by 16.

CULTURAL QUIZ

What is the meaning of `H8'? (a) intense dislike? (b) a future NASDA rocket? (c) tallness? (d) this year? Answers next issue!

 
 
       Editors: Phil Edwards and Hirax Hirabayashi