Summit Update

Summit Update

July 16, 2019 - This is a busy and exciting time on Cerro Pachón, as more large components of the telescope have now arrived at the summit. The LSST Primary/Tertiary (M1M3) mirror surrogate (the steel structure that will stand in for the glass mirror during testing) was transported from the port at Coquimbo to the summit in two pieces—it arrived at the LSST summit facility site on June 28th. The M1M3 mirror cell (the steel support structure for the mirror) stayed at the port in Coquimbo a few days longer, then followed the same route up the mountain, arriving on July 11. Both pieces of equipment were carried by Javier Cortez, SA transport vehicles. Like the LSST Coating Chamber and the M1M3 mirror, these very wide loads were driven slowly and carefully towards the summit over several nights, in what has by now become a well-rehearsed routine.

Meanwhile, inside the LSST summit facility building, preparations are underway for the coating of the Secondary Mirror (M2) in the Coating Chamber. To avoid overcrowding the area during this important activity, the M1M3 surrogate and the M1M3 cell be will be temporarily stored outside the building, protected from dust and weather by thick plastic wrap. After the M2 mirror has been coated and returned to its storage container, the surrogate and cell will be moved inside the building, and the M1M3 mirror cell will be installed on the M1M3 transport cart. The M1M3 surrogate, along with its support system, will then be integrated with the M1M3 cell and tested.

 

Financial support for Rubin Observatory comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Cooperative Support Agreement No. 1202910, the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science under Contract No. DE-AC02-76SF00515, and private funding raised by the LSST Corporation. The NSF-funded Rubin Observatory Project Office for construction was established as an operating center under management of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA).  The DOE-funded effort to build the the Rubin Observatory LSST Camera (LSSTCam) is managed by the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC).
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science. NSF supports basic research and people to create knowledge that transforms the future.
NSF and DOE will continue to support Rubin Observatory in its Operations phase. They will also provide support for scientific research with LSST data.   




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