FLITECAM: early commissioning results

Abstract

We present a status report and early commissioning results for FLITECAM, the 1-5 micron imager and spectrometer for SOFIA (the Stratospheric Observatory for lnfrared Astronomy). In February 2014 we completed six flights with FLITECAM mounted in the FLIPO configuration, a co-mounting of FLITECAM and HIPO (High-speed lmaging Photometer for Occultations; Pl Edward W. Dunham, Lowell Observatory). During these flights, the FLITECAM modes from -1-4 µm were characterized. Since observatory verification flights in 2011 , several improvements have been made to the FLlTECAM system, including the elimination of a light leak in the FLlTECAM fi lter wheel enclosure, and updates to the observing software. We discuss both the improvements to the FLlTECAM system and the results from the commissioning flights , including updated sensitivity measurements. Finally, we discuss the utility of FLITECAM in the FLIPO configuration for targeting exoplanet transits.

First exoplanet transit observation with the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy: confirmation of Rayleigh scattering in HD 189733 b with the High-Speed Imaging Photometer for Occultations

“…The problem was not noticed until the conclusion of the September/October 2013 flight series and the start of data analysis in mid October 2013. The Helium hold time as well as the electronics problem have been fixed in the meantime, and we successfully demonstrated FLITECAM observations of bright targets during FLIPO commissioning and early science in Feb 2014 (36).…”