Thursday, February 25, 2010

SDO Went Into Science Control Mode

SDO operated its ACS Science Control Mode for the first time on Thursday. In "science mode" the spacecraft uses AIA Guide Telescope signals for fine sun-pointing control. SDO stayed in science mode for more than an hour after which it was commanded back to inertial mode. Science mode worked very well.

HMI powered on its filter oven on Thursday. This oven keeps many of the optical elements at a constant temperature to allow the spectral scanning of the Fe 6173 line.