The Gemini Near-IR Imager (NIRI) is progressing through the fabrication phase. Nearly all of the optical elements are complete, the vacuum vessel is ready for its first vacuum test, and most mechanisms are machined. Klaus Hodapp, the instrument PI (Institute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii), plans to begin installing mechanisms into the dewar this fall, with a goal of performing final alignment around the end of 1998. NIRI will be the commissioning instrument for the Gemini North telescope, which is currently on schedule for first light in late 1998.
The NOAO team that is building the Gemini Near-IR Spectrograph (GNIRS) is producing final fabrication drawings and proceeding with fabrication, beginning with filter wheel assemblies and the cross dispersion turret. All optics are on order, except for the gratings. A test dewar is nearing completion, and will be used to test the larger mechanisms. A few design items not covered at the CDR were closed out at an interim review in April. The Gemini project has contracted with Durham University (UK) to add an Integral Field Unit (image slicer) to GNIRS, which will be delivered in early 1999. Jay Elias (PI) and Dan Vukobratovich (Project Engineer) plan to ship GNIRS to Hilo in mid-2000.
The USGP awarded the University of Florida a contract to build the mid-IR imager, now know as the Thermal Region Camera System (T-RECS). Charles Telesco (PI), and his team are on schedule for a mid-September Preliminary Design Review. This 8-26 µm imager has a single plate scale of 0.09 "/mm and will be delivered to Cerro Pachon in early 2001.
Gemini commissioned NOAO to manage a foundry run of 1024 × 1024 InSb ALADDIN devices to obtain detectors for NIRI and GNIRS. Two very good science grade arrays have been produced so far, so the program was placed on hold temporarily to increase the odds of obtaining even better devices in the future. NOAO conducted the acceptance test of the NIRI IR controller in July. Gemini personnel used the controller in Tucson to familiarize themselves with its operation, then the NIRI controller was shipped to Hawaii in August. Another controller for the Gemini laboratory in Hilo will be delivered soon, and the GNIRS controller will be delivered later this year.
The CCD vendor, EEV in the UK, scheduled delivery of the Gemini science CCDs throughout this fall. NOAO has received a GMOS dewar and an SDSU-2 controller to permit software development and integration with an engineering device to proceed.
Mark Trueblood