Project Update
The
GCAL team (left to right): Vicki Ramsay, David Gostick, Mel Strachan, David
Henry, Suzie Ramsay.June 2001
Monday 4th June 2001: GCAL 2 is boxed and collected for shipping to the Gemini South Observatory in Chile.
The
GCAL team (left to right): Norrie Kidd, Ken Laidlaw, Suzie Ramsay Howat, David
Gostick, Mel Strachan, Watt Russell, Ken Wilson, David Hendry, Stuart Stokes.October 2000
Friday the 13th October: GCAL is boxed and collected for shipping to the Gemini Observatory. Commissioning at Gemini North is scheduled for the first fortnight of November 2000.
January 2000
The GCAL acceptance tests were successfully carried out in December 1999.
GCAL is ready for shipping to the Gemini Observatory (image, 59K).
Environmental tests were performed in November 1999 in the ATC cold room.
GCAL at 0 degrees with David, Ken and Suzie (image, 132K).
GCAL was turned on its side for limited flexure testing (image, 140K).
Here is a picture of the filter wheel showing the field lens (image, 154K) and the reflector with the infrared diffuser (image, 154K).
John
Harris, the optical designer for GCAL, retired at the end of December 1999.
He is seen here, testing the quality of the pupil imaging.June 1999
Initial lab tests on the reflector mirrors have been carried out.
- A front view of the reflector under test, with the test lens mounted and supported in its wooden frame (image, 29K).
- A rear view of the reflector under test, with one lamp barrel mounted in the base plate (image, 72K).
- The illumination from the reflector imaged on a screen during testing of the reflector (image, 27K).
- Inserting fold mirrors in the reflector (image, 100K).
The pupil imaging mirrors have been received.
The GCAL frame is available and the filter wheel is being assembled and tested.