http://sirtf.caltech.edu/newsarchive/iocstatusupdates.shtml

SIRTF Update
December 5, 2003

This update was posted on Friday, December 5, the 103rd day of the mission. All systems are normal. SIRTF has started its science observing program with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC), the near- to mid-infrared camera. Observations of the extragalactic portion of the SIRTF First-Look Survey have begun. In addition, various Guaranteed Time Observations proposed by members of the Science Working Group are being executed. The IRAC instrument campaign will continue through Sunday evening (Pacific time). A five-and-a-half day campaign with the Multiband Imaging Photometer for SIRTF (MIPS), the long-wavelength instrument, will then commence. The first Early Release Observations from SIRTF will be presented at a NASA news conference on Thursday, December 18 at 1:00 pm (EST). The new name for SIRTF will also be announced at that time. The press conference will be televised live on NASA-TV and Webcast at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/