TO:  All GCN sites
RE:  GCN operations during the millenium transition and the holidays
DT:  21 Dec 99

MILLENIUM TRANSITION:

This message describes the operations of the GCN system during the period
02:00 31 Dec 99 to 12:00 03 Jan 00 UT.  During this window spanning the
end of the millenium, it is likely that the GCN system will be off-line
for some significant fraction of the time.  As part of the governemnt's
preparations for Y2K and potential millenium madness, Goddard Space Flight
Center (and all NASA centers) will be closed.  There will be no access
to the facility by the employees during this interval.  And it is likely
that the Internet connections will be cut to the Center for some shorter(?)
interval.

There is a chance that the GCN computers and the GCN program will have
Y2K problems, and without on-site access I will not be able to restart them
until 12:00 03 Jan 00 UT.  Even if there are no Y2K problems, the loss
of Internet access will effectively take GCN off the air (because all the
socket connections to the automated sites will be broken and the
e-mail/pager/cellphone sites will not be able to get their Notices).

My apologies in advance for this possible loss of service.  I petitioned
for on-center access on the basis that GCN is a 24/7 mission-critical
operation, but was denied.  Given that a significant fraction of the other
operations around the country will be down for this three-day holiday as well,
I suggest that we should just sit back and enjoy this momentary visit
back to the 19th century before we transition into the 21st century.  ;-)


LOCBURST NOTICES GAP:

The BATSE Rapid Burst Response system will be inoperative Dec. 23-26,
1999 due to operator holidays.  During this period, no HUNTS_LOCBURST
GRB location notices will be issued.  Other (automated) BATSE location
notice types (Original, Final, & MAXBC) are unaffected.  Normal operations
will resume Monday, Dec. 27, 1999.


Sincerely,
Scott Barthelmy

PS  On the bright side, the new millenium will usher in (a) two new filtering
functions based on error size and time delay, (b) truely automated IPN Position
Noitces, and (c) the HETE Notices.  There will be announcements for each
of these additions to GCN within days to a few weeks after the beginning
of the new year.  Happy holidays.


Scott Barthelmy                      NASA-GSFC, Code 661, Greenbelt, MD   20771
PHONE:  301-286-3106                 (work)
FAX:    301-286-1684                 (1st choice,  -1682 2nd choice)
EMAIL:  scott@lheamail.gsfc.nasa.gov
PAGER:  1-800-SKY-PAGE, PIN 2618712  (by phone, voice menu/instructions)
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WEB:    http://gcn.gsfc.nasa.gov/gcn