July 2003 - Researcher 1989 to June, 2003 Associate Researcher 1987-1989 Assistant Researcher January-March 1987 Senior Research Specialist 1971-1986 Specialist-Physical Sciences Research
Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE)(1998-2008)
FUSE, a satellite launched in 1999, explored the universe
in the far ultraviolet at high spectral resolution.
I have processed hundreds of FUSE spectra to date,
which have been presented in several publications.
Ground-based observatory data (1985-present)
From 1989 - 2004 the UW Pine Bluff Observatory spectropolarimeter (HPOL)
provided key ground-based observations in support
of WUPPE and other astronomical research.
I process HPOL data, monitor the quality of all processed data, archive data,
and provide polarimetric information for the HPOL target database website.
So far data from February 1989 -March 2000 have been delivered to the Multi-Mission Archive at Space Telescope
Science Institute (MAST). Work continues towards delivering the rest of the polarimetric
data to MAST.
Wisconsin Ultraviolet Photo-Polarimeter Experiment(WUPPE)(1983-1998)
WUPPE was a
pioneering effort to measure polarization and
photometry in the ultraviolet spectrum.
It flew on two Space Shuttle missions (in 1990 and 1995) as part of the Astro Observatory.
I provided data reduction support from initial testing at the Kennedy Space
Center through both missions.
During this time I supervised two people.
I led the effort for planning and providing the sequences of commands for observing
each astronomical target;
was responsible for processing, reducing and analyzing WUPPE Astro-1 and Astro-2 data;
and assisted in the calibration of WUPPE.
After the data were processed and verified, I worked with the national Multi-Mission Archive in providing the astronomical community
with WUPPE data, including detailed documentation.
Wide-Field Imaging Survey Polarimeter (WISP)(1993-1999)
WISP is a sounding rocket payload built to obtain wide-field polarimetric images in the ultraviolet.
I wrote some software and
assisted in processing the data.
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph(GHRS)(1991-1993)
GHRS made finely detailed spectroscopic observations of ultraviolet sources.
I provided initial GHRS data processing using pre-existing software.
HST High Speed Photometer(HSP)(1983-1984)
I reduced and analyzed test data for HSP, one
of the original five instruments on the Hubble Space Telescope.
International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE)(1978-1991)
Launched in January 1978, IUE took ultraviolet spectra of thousands of objects.
I obtained, processed, analyzed and archived IUE spectra using
computer programs I developed.
I worked with several graduate students in their thesis work.
Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO-2)(1971-1982)
The first astronomical observatory in space, OAO-2 obtained ultraviolet spectra and
photometry of planets, comets, stars, globular clusters and galaxies for the first time.
I ran pre-existing programs on the large OAO-2 dataset;
reduced OAO-2 spectrometer and photometer data;
wrote analysis software; and
published spectral atlases.