After almost two months of accumulated cpu time and five million genetic algorithm generations of root-finding among populations of 80 orbit pairs, Murison has concluded that further numerical calculations are unlikely to alter the result that the maximum possible number of stationary points in the orbit-orbit distance problem is twelve. Nevertheless, the genetic algorithm program will continue searching for stationary points until the upcoming DDA meeting in May. Murison has nearly completed the paper reporting these and other results.

Murison completed a technical memorandum, "On the Precision of Artificial Satellite Orbit Determination from Observations from an Orbiting Platform. I. Analytical Results for Dominant Transverse Motion."

Murison made final tweaks to the design of a seven-element back-end lens assembly for the dFTS. Of several different designs, the decision came down to an eight-element all-spherical or a seven-element asphere assembly. Queries to optics vendors showed that producing a radial asphere on one lens surface is less expensive than feared, so the radial asphere design, which performs better than required by the specs over most of the bandpass, will be the one used. We anticipate fabrication by an optics vendor when the money for that becomes available.

"Security" changes to USNO computing have finally crossed the line. Murison's machine is no longer connected to the pointlessly stifled USNO LAN. He is very pleased to have his machine back in good running order.

Murison performed his duties as Secretary of the DDA. The 2007 DDA elections, in which Efroimsky (USNO) is running for Vice-Chair, are currently under way. The upcoming 2007 meeting is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 6-10.