XMM-Newton-NEWS


XMM-NEWTON NEWS #13,    23-Oct-2001

ESA, XMM-Newton Science Operations Centre at
European Space Astronomy Centre (ESAC)
P.O. Box - Apdo. 50727, 28080 Madrid, Spain

SOC Home Page: http://xmm.esac.esa.int/
Helpdesk web interface: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/xmm-newton-helpdesk
Helpdesk email address: xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int
News Mailing List: https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/xmm-newton/newsletterindex.shtml

Contents:



Dear Colleagues,

Reminder: AO2 deadline

The deadline for the submission of XMM-Newton AO-2 proposals is getting closer. As announced in XMM-Newton News #10, proposal submissions via the XMM-Newton Remote Proposal Submission system (XRPS) will have to be finalized by

25-October-2001 12:00 UT

At the time of writing you have approximately 48 hours to go!!

In view of possible network congestion close to the deadline, proposers are strongly advised to submit their proposals sufficiently in advance of the due date.

EPIC-PN status report

Why an EPIC-PN status report will you ask yourself?

On 17-Sep-2001 at 15:27 a telemetry parameter of the EPIC-PN camera went out of limits (the alarm limit is 400 mA and the parameter reached 478 mA). The nominal value observed for this parameter is around 300 mA. The related CRP (Contingency Recovery Procedure) was promptly executed and at 15:29 the instrument was commanded to Safe stand-by. Analysis of the science data produced at the time of the over-current showed that the camera was still functioning correctly until it was switched off.
A test was performed on 24-Sep-2001 where only a part of the EPIC-PN camera was switched on. Following analysis of the acquired housekeeping data, a further test was executed on 1-Oct-2001 where also the CCD's were eventually switched on. After some time an internal calibration exposure was started.
Although all of these tests were successful, it was decided by the project scientist to await the end of the eclipse season for the full resumption of EPIC-PN operations, as at that point in time the EPIC-PN camera can be switched on and left on for approximately 5 months (until the next eclipse season).
The EPIC-PN camera was switched on after the eclipse season on 14-Oct-2001, and the scientific performance of all quadrants is as good as it was before.

Investigations into the exact nature of the observed events will continue, but the EPIC-PN camera is, once again, producing data of excellent quality!

Some observers will have noted significant changes in the planned observations over the 17-Sep - 14-Oct timeframe, and you will now realise this had to do with optimising the observing programme whilst not using EPIC-PN. In most cases modified observing strategies were agreed with the PI's of proposals observed in that period, but should you have any further queries, please contact us at: xmmhelp@sciops.esa.int


With best regards,
The XMM-Newton SOC.