Status Report for July 2002

[Tom Droege <tdroege2@earthlink.net>]

36 CDs were generated during July by TOM1.  The stack is now 607 high.  As 
time goes on, the quality is getting better.  Every so often, there is a 
problem.  There were a few V runs with ice due to the long time off while I 
took a vacation.    Looks like it takes a while to dry out a camera after 
it had been humid for a while.  The Rolls (1960) actually made it to 
Virginia and back.

Cameras are starting to come off the assembly line.  I now have 4 or 5 
known good cameras.  It is always a pain to really test cameras as the only 
way I have is to put them on a telescope and look at stars.  I suppose I 
should have built a camera test box early in the program.  Now it is a 
little late to go to that effort.  You never know how to divide up your 
time for best productivity.  If one knew where the problems were going to 
be in advance, then one could plan the right test fixtures.

ROB is assembled and out on the porch and has taken several data runs.  It 
needs proper bellows to shield the cameras from stray light in this 
location.  The bellows are being left to the users.  Someone may develop a 
good scheme when the stray light is annoying enough.  ROB will be ready to 
go to it's new home soon.

We released the first monthly data run in July.  This covered data taken 
between 240 and 270 degrees of RA.  The plan is to keep releasing a month 
of data each month.

We received a batch of camera parts from Cary Chleborad.  He has kindly 
donated these parts to tass.  Thank you, Cary.

We hope to start running TOM2 during August on a regular basis.  By fall we 
should be able to run TOM1, 2, 3.

Tom Droege