The US Gemini instrument program has been expanding, to include the Gemini Mid-Infrared Imager (MIRI). Requests for Proposals for the 8-26 µm single plate scale imager were distributed 26 June, with a proposal due date of 8 August. The proposals were reviewed in August by an external committee, and continue to be evaluated. The MIRI is scheduled to be delivered to the Gemini South site on Cerro Pachon in the summer of 2000.
The Gemini Near Infrared Imager (NIRI), being built by the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii, held interim reviews in August and September. Fabrication has begun on the 1-5 µm imager in the IfA machine shop, which is working on the dewar shell and major assemblies. Some of the prototype mechanisms worked so well in test that they could become deliverable hardware. The NIRI has three plate scales (0.02", 0.05", and 0.12" per pixel) and will be the commissioning instrument for the Gemini North telescope on Mauna Kea. PI Klaus Hodapp expects to deliver the instrument on schedule.
The Gemini Near Infrared Spectrograph (GNIRS) team at NOAO is holding its Critical Design Review 17-18 November. Most of the fabrication drawings are ready to send to the shop, and fabrication of parts is expected to begin in late November. Long-lead optical parts will be ordered at the same time. PI Jay Elias will deliver the instrument in early 2000.
NOAO completed the prototype InSb science detector array controller and began hardware integration of the controller for NIRI. The NIRI controller is scheduled for delivery in January, while the controller for the GNIRS will be delivered a year later.
Hughes Santa Barbara Research Center continued its foundry run of 1024 x 1024 InSb arrays for Gemini's near infrared instruments. NOAO is overseeing this contract, which has a goal of obtaining a science grade array for each of the two near IR Gemini instruments, plus a spare.
Work has begun on procuring science CCDs and controllers for the GMOS multi-object imaging spectrographs. A contract was placed with EEV for the 2K x 4K CCDs, and the first controller was delivered by the UCSD CCD lab. NOAO will integrate the work of the various suppliers and national observatories working on this project.
Mark Trueblood