<title>Extreme ultraviolet spectrograph sounding rocket payload: recent modifications for planetary observations in the EUV/FUV</title>

We report on the status of modifications to an existing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) telescope/spectrograph sounding rocket payload for planetary observations in the 800 - 1200 angstrom wavelength band. The instrument is composed of an existing Wolter Type II grazing incidence telescope, a newly built 0.4-m normal incidence Rowland Circle spectrograph, and an open-structure resistive-anode microchannel plate detector. The modified payload has successfully completed three NASA sounding rocket flights within 1994 - 1995. Future flights are anticipated for additional studies of planetary and cometary atmospheres and intersteller absorption. A detailed description of the payload, along with the performance characteristics of the integrated instrument are presented. In addition, some preliminary flight results from the above three missions are also presented.