CLA-2-90:S:N:N3:114 802823
Mr. Jim Mason
Ball Aerospace and Communications Group
PlO. Box 1062
Boulder, Colorado 80306-1062
RE: The tariff classification of calibration lamps from Canada
Dear Mr. Mason:
In your letter dated August 31, 1994 you requested a tariff
classification ruling on calibration lamps.
The calibration lamps are designed for use with the Hubble
Space Telescope. The Space Telescope Image Spectrograph (STIS) is
being developed for installation in the Hubble Space Telescope
during its 1997 servicing mission. The STIS has the ability to
calibrate itself during down time of the Hubble through a series of
calibration subsystems installed into the STIS. The calibration
lamps are part of the calibration subsystems. The subsystem
contains all of the optics and the mechanical systems for relaying
the ultraviolet (UV) radiation into the instrument for calibration.
None of the optics are inside the lamp itself.
There are two types of lamps; one is a krypton lamp and the
other is a deuterium lamp. These calibration lamps consist of gas-
filled bulbs and electronics, mounted in an aluminum tube. An RF
electronics circuit excites the gas in the bulb; this forms the gas
into a plasma. The deuterium lamp also requires a heater and
heater circuit. The circuit heats a pellet that absorbs the
deuterium when the lamp is not operating. An optional trigger
circuit and high voltage transformer will be included in the
krypton lamp if it is difficult to start.
The lamps provide illumination over continuous wavelength
bands in the UV range. The krypton lamp's emissions cover the
wavelengths from 130nm to 160nm, while the deuterium lamp's
emissions cover 160nm to 310nm. The lamps allow the Hubble to be
calibrated from within during the times that the telescope is shut
down, rather than using a known light source in space.
The applicable tariff provision for the calibration lamps will
be 9031.90.5500, Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
Annotated (HTSUSA), which provides for parts and accessories of
other optical measuring or checking instruments and appliances,
other. The general rate of duty will be 10 percent ad valorem.
This ruling is being issued under the provisions of Part 177
of the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 177).
A copy of this ruling letter should be attached to the entry
documents filed at the time this merchandise is imported. If the
documents have been filed without a copy, this ruling should be
brought to the attention of the Customs officer handling the
transaction.
Sincerely,
Jean F. Maguire
Area Director
New York Seaport