Radiometric Calibration Tracking of the Vacuum-Ultraviolet Spectrometer SUMER During the First Year of the SOHO Mission.

Detailed radiometric calibration tracking of the vacuum-ultravioletspectrometer SUMER (from solar ultraviolet measurements of emittedradiation) was performed during the first year of the Solar andHeliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission and will continue. Inview of the flight history of many previous solar UV instruments, thestability of calibration of the extreme-ultraviolet instruments on SOHOhas been a major concern. Results obtained during the first year ofoperation show that excellent radiometric stability has been achievedwith SUMER. These results were accomplished by stringentcleanliness and contamination-control procedures during all phases ofthe project. We describe the strategy and results of the in-flightcalibration tracking program performed with SUMER.