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abstract
HST has an extensive program of science instrument calibrations that consumes up to 10\% of all available HST observing time. Its major goals are to provide calibration data for the HST science program and to monitor instrument health and the stability of instrument performance. The program also includes a variety of instrument and spacecraft tests, flight software installations, and other activities which ensure the vitality of HST. A prerequisite for achieving these goals is the effective planning and scheduling of HST calibration observations. The purpose of this process is to ensure the timely development of calibration proposals; to ensure accurate planning and timely execution of calibration proposals; to provide the instrument teams and engineering staff with a clear view of when instrument calibrations are supposed to execute; and to give HST observers insight into the plans for calibration that could affect their data reduction and analysis strategies. This paper describes the nature and process of HST calibration planning and scheduling, along with the specific calibration plans for Cycle 4.
