_                    
                                                         |_|                   
      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  ***                        <)                     
 

SURVEY PROGRAM SOURCE LISTS

The candidate source lists for the VSOP Survey Program have been placed on the VSOP WWW site (reached through the Survey page or the Whats New page) and ftp site (in /pub/surveys). There are separate lists for the continuum and line surveys. Selection criteria and survey philosophies are also outlined in the documents.

SATELLITE INTEGRATION

Mechanical adjustment of the rocket/satellite interface took place this week. No major problems were encountered. In the past, satellites launched with the M-III series of rockets went through this integration procedure at ISAS. However, the test facility at ISAS is not big enough for the new M-V rocket, and so the testing took place at the Nissan factory where the rocket is being fabricated. Within the rocket fairing are the third stage and kick motor and the satellite itself. The fairing and rocket stages used in the test were the actual flight modules, though rather than move the satellite away from ISAS - where final integration testing will start next week - an engineering model was used.

ROCKET TESTS

The second test of the M-V rocket's kick-motor was made on Saturday the 14th of October. The test was the tenth in the series of M-V rocket stage firings. All went according to schedule. The first kick-motor test was made in September last year.

PROPOSALS

Proposals should now be starting to take shape -- at least in proposer's minds! People planning to mail (as opposed to courier) their proposals to ISAS should check how long air mail deliveries take... and add an extra day or two to be sure their proposals arrive by the 17th of November.

Proposers are reminded that their regional experts are standing by waiting to answer any questions regarding the AO, proposal submission, technical aspects of the mission, or simulation software. Questions and their answers are compiled in the FAQ file which can be obtained from /pub/docs on the VSOP WWW site or reached through the VSOP WWW home page. The e-mail address for your local regional expert is given in the Announcement of Opportunity.

 
 
       Editors: Phil Edwards and Hirax Hirabayashi