February 18, 1997

Mr. Jack E. Johnston
Lockheed Martin Fairchild Systems
300 Robbins Lane
Syosset, NY 11791
Telephone: (516) 349-2200
Facsimile: (516) 931-4037

Dear Mr. Johnston:

Thank you very much for your kind help in arranging the loan of a Super-Farron lens from
Lockheed Martin Fairchild Defense Systems to the NiteOwl project, being carried out here at the
University of Saskatchewan. I am writing to let you know that the lens (patent number 2846923,
serial number 243) arrived yesterday, after being held up by paperwork when crossing the border.
It appears to be in good order. Please convey my thanks also to Charles Micka for the enclosed
interferograms and his comments on them. I will follow up the patent number to try to get a
prescription for the lens. 

I am enclosing a copy of an article from the University of Saskatchewan On Campus News which
describes the NiteOwl project, for your information. It is my hope that the large aperture and low
f/# of the Super-Farron will provide the high sensitivity we need to acquire stellar spectra from a
spinning (and pendulating) experiment platform descending beneath a parachute. We submitted
the NiteOwl proposal in early January, but will not hear a decision until mid-May. If we are
funded to carry out Phase A of the project, our activities with the Super-Farron will begin soon
after that. If our proposal is not selected, I will return the lens promptly. In either event, I will be
in touch with you by the end of May.

With sincere best regards, I am

Gratefully yours,



David P. Steele, Ph.D.

Encl.

cc:  Prof. E. J. Llewellyn, University of Saskatchewan
  Dr. R. L. Gattinger, University of Saskatchewan
  Dr. J. E. Johnston, SCI-TEC Instruments, Inc.