_                    
                                                         |_|                   
      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  ***                        <)                     
 

HALCA OPERATIONS

All continues smoothly with HALCA operations. The operations team, led by Kii-san, took a well earned rest last weekend, but have been back on board every night this week for the Kagoshima tracking passes. The attitude control system is being checked out in more detail this week, and testing of the on-board radio-astronomical system, led by Kobayashi-san, is continuing.

In a light-hearted moment in January (reported in New Scientist), Project Scientist `Hirax' Hirabayashi compared the build-up of anticipation in the lead-up to launch with the feelings of a couple expecting their first child. The analogy has proven to be truer than expected, as the VSOP team members involved with operations during the tracking passes have been kept awake most nights recently! Several days after Dave Meier (JPL) arrived at ISAS he met Rikako Okayasu, and the two realised that Dave was now on Japan time, but that Okayasu-san had switched to LA time!

USUDA

The first tests of the Ku-band (15 GHz) phase link between the satellite and the ground will be made next week from the Usuda Tracking Station, and VSOP team members, led by Kawaguchi-san, are at Usuda this week ensuring all is ready. Testing with the Usuda tracking station will take about a week, after which time the DSN and Green Bank tracking stations will be brought on-line in the next step towards first fringes, the first observations for which are currently scheduled for April 1st (no kidding!). Also at Usuda this week was Paul Newby (ISTS), who helped install the CSA-funded S2 recorder at the Usuda 64 metre telescope.

ARIGATOU!

Thanks to all those who sent congratulatory notes after the successful deployment of the main antenna and once again our apologies for not being able to reply individually.

The VSOP news will revert to fortnightly issues from this issue.

 
 
       Editors: Phil Edwards and Hirax Hirabayashi