Gindex

PROGRESS REPORT - February 15, 1999

Accomplishments/Status

Summary: The instrument repackaging effort has resulted in a top-level definition which uses a single cold optical bench to support mechanism and optics. In addition, the project will use cold motors for all internal mechanisms, which will significantly reduce complexity and weight. A schedule detailing work through the Restart Review has been developed and
will be published shortly.

Discussions on interfacing and integrating the IFU were held, and resulted in Durham agreeing to hold a coordination meeting at NOAO in early March. This meeting will produce a revised ICD.

The Wavefront Sensor ICD was received and reviewed, and discussions with NIRI and IPGO taken place to resolve open items in interface definition. Some issues remain to be resolved, but the GNIRS project has received enough information to proceed with laying in of the Wavefront Sensor.

The project has scheduled an internal review of the repackaged design on March 15.

Optics: All work on the II-VI contract has been stopped and is the process of being renegotiated. The project has determined that only three mirrors in the order (Offner primary and secondary and the collimator) can be used in the repackaged design. The optics design will be updated prior to the Restart Review, after which the subject of which optics technology to use for the remaining flat mirrors will be revisited.

RMI has been awarded the contract for all transmissive optics used in the instrument, and has been authorized to proceed with materials procurement only. Actual fabrication will not be authorized until after the Restart Review.

Mechanical Design: The optical cold bench configuration has been determined, mechanism drive trades completed, and the mechanical requirements for all mechanisms have been outlined. A preliminary FEA will be completed this month, and a preliminary weight estimate of the instrument will be done in early March. Layout of the external structure and truss has started. Design staff training is in process.

Mechanical Fabrication: No fabrication except for component testing is planned until after the Restart Review. The Test Dewar, being provided by NOAO, is 90% complete.

Electronics Design: No significant activity except for coordination on motor drive trades and cold motor selection. Electronic system design will resume after the Internal Review.

Software Development: No activity. Control software design is planned to resume in April, resume the Internal Review.

Problems/Solutions

There is a key issue regarding thermal control of the Wavefront Sensor which requires coordination with the IGPO to resolve. The NIRI version uses thermal control of the optics bench on which the sensor is mounted, and the GNIRS had not planned to use cold bench thermal control.

Key Personnel

No changes.