TAUVEX flight calibrations: Plans and challenges

Abstract

The operational tasks for the Performance Verification (PV) and calibration phase in the first year of TAUVEX operation are presented. The new challenges regarding the possible reduction in sensitivity are outlined and are reflected in the specialized plan for first few months of the mission. The calibration operations will be extended into the first year, in parallel to an unprecedented deep exposure of the celestial poles. The preliminary zero-points of the instrumental photometric system, in AB and Vega-based magnitude systems, are calculated for pre-ground calibrations data as well as for the updated results. For flux calibration, the effective wavelengths, bandwidths and conversion factors are calculated for both pre-ground and updated values. These conversion factors are to be used for converting the TAUVEX count rates to flux and UV luminosity of the sources.