Ron Remillard (MIT, United States)

Sky Coverage Issues for the LOFT WFM and LAD Instruments

Many science goals for LOFT emphasize observations of neutron stars and black holes in accreting binary
systems. Most of the targets are highly variable, and X-ray transients constitute an important fraction of the
scientific opportunities. Mature observing programs will be designed to respond to transients, to observe
specific X-ray states, and to select particular levels of X-ray luminosity. For both the LOFT WFM and LAD
instruments, we quantify the impact of using fixed versus rotating solar panels, in part using lessons from
RXTE. Additional considerations are offered for the WFM design and WFM data products.