The Gemini Near Infrared Imager (NIRI) optical fabrication is complete, and the mechanical fabrication is expected to be done shortly. After satisfactorily completing the first cold test, the instrument was disassembled for installation of wiring in the dewar. Klaus Hodapp, the instrument PI at the Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii, plans to install mechanisms into the dewar and conduct the next cold test in March, with a goal of performing final alignment before mid-1999. NIRI will be one of the commissioning instruments for the Gemini North Telescope, which is nearing first light.
After completing an AURA review in October, the GNIRS instrument team has been restructured with a new Project Manager, two new mechanical engineers, and a new lead designer/draftsman. The new team toured the Gemini Hilo Base Facility and the Gemini North facility on Mauna Kea, and presented a revised packaging concept directed at meeting the instrument performance requirements and Gemini interface specifications. This repackaging activity will culminate in a review currently scheduled for this summer. The current estimate for delivering the instrument is late 2002.
Charles Telesco (PI), and his team are on schedule for a Critical Design Review to be held in late May. Gemini has approved the team's request to add a limited spectroscopic capability to the baseline 8-26 µm imager, which has a single plate scale of 0.09"/mm. The contract with the University of Florida calls for delivery to Cerro Pachon in early 2001.
With ten hybridization attempts by Boeing SBRC, two very good science grade arrays have been produced. The program was placed on hold temporarily to increase the odds of obtaining even better devices in the future. After shipping two controllers in 1998, NOAO will deliver the GNIRS controller later this year.
EEV in the UK has encountered delays in delivering the science arrays for the GMOS dewar. NOAO is proceeding with final software integration.