In-flight performance of the Goddard high-resolution spectrograph of the Hubble Space Telescope

John R. Troeltzsch; Dennis Charles Ebbets; Harry W. Garner; A. Tuffli; R. Breyer; J. Kinsey; Cynthia S. Peck; Don J. Lindler; Keith Feggans

doi:10.1117/12.46710

1 September 1991 In-flight performance of the Goddard high-resolution spectrograph of the Hubble Space Telescope

John R. Troeltzsch, Dennis Charles Ebbets, Harry W. Garner, A. Tuffli, R. Breyer, J. Kinsey, Cynthia S. Peck, Don J. Lindler, Keith Feggans

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 1494, Space Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments; (1991) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.46710
Event: Orlando '91, 1991, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) has completed Orbital Verification and is well into the Science Verification phase of its mission. The instrument performance has been flawless, and many significant early science observations have been completed. The GHRS digicon detectors are well calibrated including the determination of operating parameters, detector geometry, and noise sensitivity. Tests using calibration lamps and standard UV stars have confirmed the instrument sensitivity and spectral resolving powers of Lambda/Delta-Lambda = 2000, 20,000, and 90,000. The sensitivity has not changed since the 1984 baseline ground based calibration. The GHRS flight software has been thoroughly tested, and is controlling all instrument observing as expected. Basic target acquisition testing and GHRS alignment calibrations have been successfully completed, and targets are routinely being located within 2-3 arcsecs of the initial pointing. Observations have been successfully performed using both the 2.0 x 2.0 arcsec aperture, and the smaller 0.25 x 0.25 arcsec aperture. The extended point spread function caused by the spherical aberration of the HST primary mirror has been well measured, and observing methods to deal with it have been developed. The aberrated image allows approximately 70 percent of the total energy into the large science aperture, and 15 percent of the total energy into the smaller aperture. Numerous science assessment observations of interesting astronomical targets have been completed, and indicate the extreme usefulness of the GHRS to the scientific community.

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John R. Troeltzsch, Dennis Charles Ebbets, Harry W. Garner, A. Tuffli, R. Breyer, J. Kinsey, Cynthia S. Peck, Don J. Lindler, and Keith Feggans "In-flight performance of the Goddard high-resolution spectrograph of the Hubble Space Telescope", Proc. SPIE 1494, Space Astronomical Telescopes and Instruments, (1 September 1991); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.46710

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