Observations at other wavelengths are encouraged. The spark chamber gas which had been deteriorating at the anticipated rate was replaced with fresh gas. The instrument performance is now at the expected level. Phase 3 preliminary analyses and delivery of preliminary results to the SSC are on schedule. Interaction with guest investigators, primarily in relation to the Phase 2 data, remains at a good level.
Plans are already underway for a follow-up conference.
There will be a general team meeting of the collaboration next week at the University of New Hampshire, to assess instrument operation and performance to date, the status of the routine processing of incoming flight data, and the progress of numerous scientific investigations. The present outburst was first detected on Jan. 28. The pulsed flux remained only marginally detectable until Feb. 1. A steady increase in flux began on Feb. 3.0, when the pulsed flux doubled. The pulse shape is very broad, with a sharp dip occupying about 0.2 in phase.