New limit switches and bumper stops are being designed. In theory we expect no damage to the antenna even from pointing directly at the sun. The quadrupod legs now have specially shaped metal covers. We note that when the antenna was deployed in June, the sun was within about 10 degrees of the zenith. Currently, the antenna control software shuts the door in front of Mirror 3 whenever the antenna is pointed within 30 degrees of the sun.
More software protection is planned.
Obtaining the shortest possible interferometer spacings is essential for complete imaging. Our shortest spacing is 7.96 meters and we will have 6 baselines shorter than 10 meters. We plan to defer the moving or installation of a new pad to achieve shorter spacing until the other site work is complete. Because of the political tensions about development on the mountain, it is unlikely that we would be allowed to do heavy construction until the new Development Plan is approved. In that plan we seek permission to build more pads.