Questions of DIS throughput have been raised and are presently unresolved. Also, a third slit wheel has been built by NMSU, mainly for use of slit masks but is also generally available. Bernie is planning a site visit this coming week to attempt to further improve the bias stability. Pretty much unchanged since June, with the exception of some additional tests and baffling which improves stray-light rejection of camera when mounted at Nasmyth. Delivery to APO uncertain.
Problems continue with camera dewar temperatures.
2 electronics reworked by vendor and then returned to the site. Some recent tests of actual guiding on telescope performed, indicating good performance with brighter guide stars. More testing scheduled this month, and plans being formed for possible use of laser guide star beacon later this year. In process of building system that allows remote operation of primary mirror cover. This will allow calibration lamps to shine down from 2ndary truss onto mirror cover for flat fields and wavelength calibrations, without having to manually cycle the mirror covers and the enclosure shutters.