28 March 2024 - Mission Day: 10345 - DOY: 088
OPERATIONS
 
Science Operations
 
 

FINAL MINUTES FOR SOHO 21 Nov 2008 SPWG MEETING

1. Boundary conditions

a) Orbit, attitude and manoeuvres


- SOHO will be upside down (180 degrees) as of Tuesday 18 Nov.

- manoeuvres

  To the degree possible, manoeuvres take place during the last days of
  34-m keyholes.  Currently proposed or set manoeuvre dates are:

  Feb 10 (TBC)  station-keeping & momentum management
  Feb 14 (TBC)  roll

  May 12 (TBC)  station-keeping, momentum management, roll



b) Communications with the spacecraft


  Graphical DSN schedule: http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/dsn/

  Keyhole dates for the next 6 months (All keyhole information is available
  at or via http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/keyholes.html):

* Jan 25-Feb 21 26m Keyhole
* Feb 1-14      34m Keyhole

* Apr 28-May 16 26m Keyhole 
* May 02-12     34m Keyhole


- End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods

  To avoid problems with transmitter masks at the end of passes during MDI
  continuous, DSN has requested we bring the carrier down 30 min before the
  end of pass.  As a result, the last 30 min of all MDI continuous contacts
  will be TM only.  For ranging passes, the spacecraft will be transitioned
  to record ~1 h before the end of the pass.  The station will drop the
  carrier and re-sweep into receiver 2.  The spacecraft will then be
  transitioned back to VC2 and VC3.


- DSN 26 m antenna decommissioning and the keyholes

  DSN is in the process of decommissioning its 26 m antennae --- the only
  one left is DSS-46. DSS-46 is planned to be decommissioned Aug 1,
  2009. Since the current high-gain antenna (HGA) position along the
  unmoved axis has been optimized for 26 m antennas, the spacecraft team is
  investigating moving the HGA to a position optimized for 34 m
  antennae. Such a change would shorten or remove the keyholes, but DSN
  resource allocation issues and possible impacts on MDI and MDI/SDO-HMI
  cross-calibration period need to be addressed. For analyses and details
  see the minutes of Science Working Team meeting number 40 (available at
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SWT/Minutes/swt40.pdf, pages
  38--41).



c) KNOWN submode (SM) dependent activities/submode changes:


* TOO           JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (SM5 if SUMER
                observes target, SM6 otherwise)
* Jan 15,22     EIT Shutterless #34 (SM6)
* Apr 16,23     EIT Shutterless #35 (SM6)
* Apr           2-week SUMER campaign (TBD; SM5)

  SUMER campaign dates may overlap with keyholes. Such overlaps shall be
  scheduled only if periods of no SUMER data between passes are acceptable.

  Potential conflict between the EIT shutterless #35 and the planned Apr
  2009 SUMER campaign.

  Except for Major Flare Watches, TRACE will be doing full disk mosaics
  if/when EIT is not able to do synoptic sets due to keyhole operations.



d) Instrument maintenance activities

  EIT bake-out periods will be during keyholes.



e) Spacecraft maintenance activities

  A proposal to reduce PLM heaters on the upper panels has been
  prepared. The complete proposal can be found at
  http://zeus.nascom.nasa.gov/~bfleck/SOHO/PLM-heaters-reduction_2008-Nov-10.pdf.
  The reduction is aimed at cooling the FPSS (the temperature of which is
  above its qualification level) and based on a review of all PLM
  temperatures (both TRP and instrument internal temperatures). In addition
  it will also decrease the power consumption.
 
  The heating reduction is limited to 15.7 W. In the past PLM heaters were
  reduced by steps as big as 20 W (when OSR and FPSS heaters were switched
  OFF in October 1998). According to the "rule of thumb" (PLM temperature
  change of 0.07 K/W) the whole PLM temperature would decrease by less than
  1.1 K. The thermal effects will be seen within 12 h of the heating
  reduction.
 
  With the seasonal warming, we suggest to do such a change in December
  this year so as to reduce the FPSS peak temperature expected for January
  4 2009 (perihelion).



f) Others

  TRACE eclipse season began on 13 Sep 2008.

  Daytime weekday passes of Mon-Wed are currently automated but
  attended. Thu-Fri passes remain crewed for training and proficiency
  reasons. Date of transition to unattended daytime automation remains TBD.

  NRT during automated passes (both weekend and weekday) is currently
  paused (briefly) regularly for resets of software anomalies. NRT schedule
  (which includes the pauses) for all automated passes can be found at
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/nighttime_nrt.txt.

  FOT is currently developing and testing a software anomaly detection
  system, which would pause NRT only when needed instead of the current
  regular pauses. Due to problems in development the approach of regular
  pauses remains the operational approach until TBD time.

2. Priorities for the coming month and more

a) Joint observing plans and campaigns


Continuing campaigns:

* 2002/02/25--  JOP136 Default RHESSI Collaborations (#6850),
                POC: Tero Siili
* 2003/05/13--  Default CDS Co-observations with TRACE (#6950)
* 2005/09/20--  JOP153/MMOP003 Future Major Flare Watch (#8008)
* 2007/03/20--  Default CDS/Hinode-EIS co-observations (#7200)

  Campaign #6850 is for "individual instrument studies" selecting an active
  region target [partially] influenced by the Max Millennium target
  selection to maximise chances of serendipitous co-observations.

  EIT supports all with half/full-res 195 A CME watch in submode 5/6. It is
  clear that STEREO-EUVI provides adequate "context" information for RHESSI
  flare observations. Routine EIT submode and resolution switches are
  probably no longer needed.


* Dec 12-15     MDI Continuous Contact

  Note "End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods" in
  section 1b.
 
  Standard full disk, 1-min cadence magnetograms and dopplergrams.


* Jan 15, 22    EIT shutterless #34, EIT/CDS/MDI/TRACE/STEREO,
                  POC: Susanna Parenti

  DSN passes (and hence exact times) still TBC.

  MDI will support with full disk, 1-min cadence magnetograms and
  dopplergrams.


* Jan 15-19     MDI Continuous Contact

  Note "End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods" in
  section 1b.


* Jan 23        HERSCHEL sounding rocket launch, LASCO/UVCS/TRACE

  Timing TBC. The HERSCHEL teams has requested 23 Jan 2009 at local solar
  noon as the launch time.  Any day that week from the 20th to the 23rd is
  free from science and programmatic objections.  HERSCHEL launch has to
  wait until January due to unexpected number of higher-priority missions
  from White Sands Missile Range.  Current consensus is that HERSCHEL will
  get its first choice on the week of Jan 19.

  LASCO will support with (3) polarized image sets in 60, 0, and -60
  degrees at launch time.


* Mar 25-30     MDI Continuous Contact (TBC)

  Note "End-of-pass handling during MDI continuous contact periods" in
  section 1b.


* Apr 16, 23    EIT shutterless #35, EIT/CDS/MDI/TRACE/STEREO,
                  POC: Susanna Parenti

  DSN passes (and hence exact times) still TBC.

  MDI will support with full disk, 1-min cadence magnetograms and
  dopplergrams.


* Apr           2-week SUMER Campaign, TBC

  Timing remains TBC, since negotiations with Hinode Chief Observers (COs)
  have not been finished yet. Most of Hinode COs meet in National
  Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ) on the week beginning Nov 17 and
  decisions on this campaign are expected to be made then.

  SUMER also inquires about any flexibility on the dates of shutterless
  #35.

  CDS requests to be included on the mailings concerning these forthcoming
  JOPs.

* Apr TBD       JOP 210 Checking the possible drives of solar wind origin 
                  in the coronal hole,
                  SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/Hinode-XRT (all TBC),
                  POC: Hui Tian. 
                  Timing TBD.

* Apr TBD       JOP 211 How does the solar wind originate from the 
                  quiet-Sun region,
                  SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/Hinode-XRT (all TBC),
                  POC: Hui Tian.
                  Timing TBD.

* Apr TBD       JOP 212 Connection between UV explosive event and 
                  magnetic cancellation,
                  SUMER/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/Hinode-XRT, 
                  POC: Hui Tian.
                  Timing TBD.

* Apr TBD       JOP 214 Quiescent prominence structure and dynamics with Hinode and 
                  La Palma, 
                  SUMER/UVCS/Hinode-EIS/Hinode-SOT/Hinode-XRT/STEREO/TRACE,
                  TBC. 
                  POC: Tom Berger

  TRACE has not received any requests from JOP 214 & awaits date and
  program information.

  CDS requests to be added to the mailing list to receive pointing
  coordinates for all JOPs.


* May 17-Jul 21 MDI 60-day continuous contact

  Timing TBC. The continuous contact period will be a 60-day period within
  the dates listed above.


* Jun 1 - Jul 5 Sunrise 5-day balloon flight

  In June or July 2009 a balloon borne solar observatory called 'Sunrise'
  is planned to be launched and SoHO (at least MDI and SUMER) as well as
  TRACE supports have been requested. The launch date will be sometime
  between Jun 1 and Jul 5, 2009 and the flight lasts 5 days. Coordinated
  observations with SoHO would therefore be for five days sometime between
  1 June to 10 July 2009.

  A short description of SUNRISE is given in
  http://star.mpae.gwdg.de/Sunrise/project/publicat/SPIE_2004.pdf



b) Intercalibration activities

  Last ICAL was: Nov 04

  ICALs are normally performed monthly. Below is a SOC proposal for ICAL
  weeks for the next six months. Baseline will be to schedule it for
  Thursday during contact.

* Dec 1-5       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/STEREO/Hinode-EIS(TBD)

* Jan 5-9       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/STEREO/Hinode-EIS(TBD)

* Jan 26-30     ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/STEREO/Hinode-EIS(TBD)
                  NOTE: 26-m keyhole begins on Jan 26 and 34-m keyhole
                  begins on Feb 1. ICAL might still be possible during this
                  period.

* Mar 2-6       ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/STEREO/Hinode-EIS(TBD)

* Apr 6-10      ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/STEREO/Hinode-EIS(TBD)

* May 11-22     ICAL01 (#7113), CDS/EIT/STEREO/Hinode-EIS(TBD)

  Proposed compiled ICAL scheduling criteria, constraints and guidelines
  (see also campaign #7113):

  1) EIT/CDS are the primary participating instruments

  2) STEREO-EUVI observations are included when possible. ICALs are
     attempted to be scheduled not to coincide with STEREO manoeuvres or
     other interruptions in observations (see
     http://stereo-ssc.nascom.nasa.gov/plans.shtml).

  3) EIT: ICALs OK at all other times except the weeks of shutterless

  4) Dates, details and confirmation will be determined by the planners
     with support from the SOHO SOCs.

  5) Neither Hinode-SOT nor Hinode-XRT have current interest in
     participating in ICALs. Hinode-EIT will from time-to-time perform its
     sensitivity calibration exercise, but has no need to perform this
     regularly as part of the SOHO ICAL. When it is convenient for
     Hinode-EIS (given Hinode's constraints), SOHO will be informed ahead
     of time of when the sensitivity calibration is to be performed. It
     will then be up to SOHO whether to follow Hinode-EIS' pointing and
     timing.

  CDS ok. If Hinode-EIS can suggest convenient date & time, CDS can usually
  accommodate.



c) Individual instrument plans


MDI:

  See section 2a for MDI continuous contact periods.

  MDI may reduce the ALT cadence during Keyholes to be less than 15 ALT
  magnetograms per day if the lack of high rate telemetry is such that we
  will lose all or almost all of the 15 ALT Magnetograms each day.  The ALT
  cadence will be decided on an individual Keyhole basis and even a daily
  basis during each Keyhole depending on the 70 m antenna availability at
  the time.  MDI may also down-link select magnetograms in the 5 kbps
  telemetry if no 70 m passes are available at least every 2 days for Mag
  dump in the 160 kbps telemetry.

  All requests for MDI support need to be made several months ahead of time
  and sent to mdi-ops(at)mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov.  Even outside keyholes,
  MDI can only do 1-minute cadence observations when we have contact and
  there is no recorder dump in progress.

  MDI's REQUEST page is at http://mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov/coordination.txt
  NOTE: Listing of a study on that page means *only* that a request has
  been received, not that it will necessarily be supported.

  A description of MDI Observing Modes most used for JOPs and campaigns (FD
  vs. HR) can be found at http://mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov/Collaborate.
  Anyone requesting MDI observations is encouraged to read this page in
  order to have a better idea of what observing modes would be best suited
  for a particular study.  More detailed information about how MDI
  operates, observational constraints and telemetry information can be
  found at http://mdisas.nascom.nasa.gov/MDI_Collaboration_Details.

  MDI has switched to Focus 5 (best focus for full-disk observing) on Oct
  23, 2008.

  MDI will do Full Disk Velocity observations for March and September 2009.


UVCS:

  For weekly plans, see the SOHO calendar and the UVCS planning page:
  http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/uvcs/observations/obst.html.


CDS:

  For details see http://solar.bnsc.rl.ac.uk/scientificops/request.shtml.


EIT/LASCO:

  EIT: 195 A CME watch plus synoptics at 6-hour cadence, as usual. Full-res
  CME watch whenever we're in submode 6. Hope never to change until the
  Bogart mission.


SUMER:

  See section 2a for details.

  There are tentative plans for another SUMER-Hinode campaign in April
  2009. To be coordinated with Hinode instrument teams. SUMER will also
  observe during the Sunrise balloon flight.


TRACE:

  NOTE that TRACE in general reserves the right to withdraw support from
  agreed, existing collaborations if a sufficiently "good active region" is
  called by the Max Millennium group.

  For TRACE summer eclipse season see section 1f.

3. Any other business

* Tentative SPWG meeting times for next six months (only the next one will
  be decided in this meeting). Meetings take place as a baseline on Fridays
  after the daily and weekly meetings.

  Dec 19
  Jan 23
  Feb 20
  Mar 27
  Apr 24
  May 29


The rest are FYI items:

* In the future SOHO's DSN contacts will grow shorter as we lose 26-m
  antenna support and other, new missions get higher priority. The
  instrument teams are therefore requested to look at the NRT commanding
  that is done (especially for emergencies and recoveries) and see what can
  be converted into TSTOLs that the FOT can run (even without explicit
  instrument or SOC direction).

* MDI high-rate support requests: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* DSN support requests: preferably at least 6 months in advance.  Keep this
  in mind for: ground-based collaborations that require MDI support,
  stellar/shutterless observations that require NRT, etc.

* Future Mercury and Venus transits: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* Hinode operational and planning information and guidelines: no change,
  see URL http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html
  and http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/soc/JOPs/jop-submit.html

* STEREO operational and planning information: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* The SOHO JOP/ICAL database and the web pages are now the Solar JOP/ICAL
  database and web pages. This is due to anticipated increased
  contributions by and collaborations as well as intercalibrations with
  STEREO and Hinode.

* New JOP vs. modified existing JOP rules-of-thumb: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html

* SOHO calendar email notifications: no change, see URL
  http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/operations/SPWG/spwg-20080118.html
 
 

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