The goals of the Commissioning Phase are to:
Following Final Acceptance of the telescope system, the Construction Phase ends and the Commissioning Phase begins. This phase is expected to last one year, but past experience has shown that this is difficult to predict exactly; its length will depend in large measure on the quality and performance of the vendors. There is no need for a Project Manager for this phase. Instead, Mr. Trueblood will assume the role of Principal Investigator (PI) during commissioning, while Dr. Lebofsky continues as the Project Scientist. With the assistance of the Project Scientist, the Principal Investigator will characterize the performance of the imager and attempt to operate the telescope in the manner to be used during science operations. The observing runs aimed at imager characterization will yield information on exposure versus limiting magnitude (brightness of the objects detected in the image), filter performance, flat field performance, and other items needed to plan operations properly.
During the first part of the Commissioning Phase, we will test the various modes of the telescope, instrument, and control system and characterize their performance according to the Commissioning Plan. Targets with known characteristics (with little or no scientific interest) will be observed to permit this characterization. The Commissioning Plan will contain specific tests and expected results (or a range of results) based on the performance predicted from the error budgets and the FPRD. The results of each will be noted in the Commissioning Plan and compared to the expected results. Even though the telescope system components will have been accepted at the start of the Commissioning Phase and will be Winer property, the vendor contracts will permit us to consult with them in case of problems encountered during this phase.
After characterizing the telescope, imager, and control system as independent subsystems, the next phase of Commissioning is to characterize the telescope system as a whole. The tests in the Commissioning Plan will be structured to determine how well the system can be used to make the observations detailed in the Science Cases. Again, specific quantified results will be predicted in the Plan and the actual results will be noted as they are obtained. After all results are in, they will be reviewed by the Project Scientist and the Principal Investigator (Mark Trueblood, formerly the Project Manager).
Part of the review of telescope system performance will be an assessment of whether it meets expected performance goals, or if changes to certain components are needed to bring them within specifications, or additions are needed to perform the planned science. The results of this assessment will be reported to the Winer Board and all partners, along with a request to spend additional funds that may be needed. If such a request is approved (according to the terms of a partnership agreement), the PI will award contracts or purchase orders for the replacement of critical parts or procurement of additional products or services.
After the telescope system characterization and review are complete, Commissioning will move into System Verification. In this sub-phase, normal operations will be attempted with the telescope, using the System Verification Plan within the Commissioning Plan as the basis for operations. The PI, with assistance from the Project Scientist, will look at the telescope system as a complete entity and tune its functioning, with the help of the telescope and imager contractors and the Systems Engineer, whose contracts will include support during this critical phase. They will need to use the telescope for an extended period of time in actual operations without expecting useful scientific results. The goal will be to wring out the system and to remove the remaining bugs as quickly as possible.
Last modified: January 3, 2008.