Technical manager’s report September 2005

Telescope activities Primary mirror hardpoint repair New mirror actuator controls Collimation analysis F/5 secondary mirror aspherized

Instrument activities CorMASS visiting instrument POETS visiting instrument GLAO observing F/5 instrument cart delivered

SAO F/5 instrument cart

Instrument activities LDSS wheel encoders, cable wrap Iodine cell remote control MagIC upgrade tests IMACS cooler repair IMACS CCD repair

Instrument activities New instrument components –LDP & 150 l/mm grism for IMACs –VPH-ALL for LDSS –GISMO for IMACS –ugriz & Hα filters for IMACS –LDSS filters –MMTF

Infrastructure activities Serial-on-fiber lightning protection –Control computers to telescope hardware cable runs to be replaced with fiber optics

Instrument meetings Meetings with: –FIRE –FourStar –PFS –MIRAC4 –MMIRS –MegaCAM –F/5 secondary –F/5 WFC –AO secondary

F/5 deployment SAO and Magellan staff regularly meet to discuss site capabilities and instrument needs Walk-through of all deployment operations confirm concepts (secondary, MMIRS, etc.) Critical logistics concerns understood (clearances, weights, crane locations, motions, storage)

F/5 deployment Control software (telescope-instrument) architecture designed Wavefront sensor software concepts OK, but need detail work F/11-F/5-F/11 engineering time budget estimated Tests in progress for fit-checks, flexure, etc.

F/5 deployment Magellan is using SAO experience with MMT to design baffles

Staffing – Chile (budgeted level plus ATE) We are at full staffing Two new instrument specialists (one promoted from TO) New programmer (promoted from TO) Two new telescope operators JobEffort Asst. telescope engineer1.0 Electronics engineer3.0 Instrument specialist4.0 Machinist assistant2.0 Mechanical technician2.0 Programmer2.0 Telescope operator6.0 Total20.0

Staffing - Chile New instrument specialist responsibilities: –Participate in instrument design reviews and instrument development –Increased instrument characterization tasks (throughput, noise, etc.)

Staffing – Pasadena (budgeted level minus ATE) JobEffortJobEffort Accounting assistant0.10Manager tech group0.80 Asst business manager0.20Mechanical engineer0.50 Buyer0.15Postdoc0.66 Controller0.20Programmer0.90 Electronics engineer1.00Purchasing manager0.15 Electronics technician1.00Shipping clerk0.10 Instrument scientist1.00Technical manager0.50 Machinist0.50Total7.76

Computer networking Network administration was a 10% effort from Magellan programmer New instruments require more support LCO arranged for CTIO management –More IP addresses –Adds routers and firewall –Connects to CTIO network

Computer networking Cost is capped at $50K/year Magellan fraction is 50% Magellan maintains telescope operator computers

Clean room for large IR instruments MMIRS and FourStar are large (3x3x10 feet) Detectors need protection from static electricity and particulate contamination Detectors are expensive ($2.5M for FourStar) Undisturbed workspace needed for long periods for assembly and repairs

Clean room for large IR instruments Clean room is required to support large infrared instruments Proposal development in progress

IMACS dewar #2 Council approved construction of second IMACS dewar Reduces wear and tear; damage risks Improves red spectral response Reduces instrument changes

Carnegie shop New purchases –CNC lathe –CNC mill Increases production throughput

Instruments Assume we can support six facility instruments How to handle incoming 7+ instruments Plus new telescope subsystems (new secondaries, AO, etc.)

Instruments – page 1 InstrumentScience rankEffort IMACS F/23.0High IMACS F/42.8High MIKE2.8Low FourStar2.6High PANIC2.5Low LDSS2.2Low MagIC2.0Low F/11 AO2.0High+

Instruments – page 2 InstrumentScience rankEffort MMIRS1.9High MMFS1.9High MIRAC/AO1.8High MegaCAM1.6High MagE1.6Lo MMTF1.5High GISMO1.4Medium MOE1.4Low

Instruments Instruments can displace similar equipment (trade PANIC for FourStar) User status (PI or other expert required on every observing run) Mothball (minimum 18 months) to accommodate the new Decommission

Commissioning scientist Education and experience: Advanced degree in physics, astronomy, or related field with a minimum of two years hands-on experience with astronomical instrumentation at a ground-based observatory.

Commissioning scientist work with instrument teams, telescope engineers, and instrument specialists to develop installation and commissioning plans for user and facility instruments. provide remote diagnostic and troubleshooting support to facility instrument teams. train and update instrument specialists on the operation and maintenance of facility instruments.

Commissioning scientist assist in developing new observing and setup modes. Examples include new disperser characterization and maintaining in on-sky alignment software. review and maintain on-site operations documentation for facility instruments and forward new procedure descriptions to the instrument team. ensure that on-line and paper documentation, especially that used by visiting astronomers, is clear and accurate.