Today, 28 of June, was a long work day.
The day started at 09:30 hours and the morning has been dedicated to make all the modifications needed and to install all the equipments required for this mission.
One of the problems was that the spectroscope, camera, computers foor the control of the spectrograph were not IAC property. We carried that equipment ourselves.
So, the maintenance personnel first removed the unnecessary equipments. Then they installed all the equipments necessary and adequated to our mission. That included an adaptor for 2 inches, a piece that has been machined by the IAC.
We needed to have a telescope at the dome and another at the control room, so to control the spectrograph and the science camera remotely. At the dome, the computer was fixed at the telescope and both connected by a net cable.
A lamp of argon was installed in front of the telescope and fixed to it. Its objective is to get calibration spectra.
Also we needed to install a white piece of cloth for the flats. It was installed on the dome and a halogen projector fixed to the telescope structure and pointing at it.
Then the spectrograph, the camera, etc.
Next all the connections and the electric feeding were established.
Then all the cables were organized and fixed at safe positions.
Several problems arised during these works; the most important was one of our computers with a blue screen just after start. It reported a problem with a particular file and concerning the antivirus. The antivirus was uninstalled and this problem was fixed.
Then there were problems to establish communication between the computer in the control room and the one in the dome. Also this problem was solved and, by 14:00 hours, having started at 09:30, the setup seemed ready for the checks in the afternoon.
We, Alberto, Anatoly and José Ribeiro, followed all these preparations and where necessary, provided information about our equipments and about our needs.
I cannot end this report without talking about the maintenance crew. They were extremely professional, carrying out their job under well established routines and allways complying with our requests.
We saw no rush, no precipitations, but like if a checklist was being followed.
This was a busy morning and a great lesson for us.
We learned how many small things can be well done and how a complex system can be correctly and safely managed and organised.
After this long morning, we had lunch and, by 19:30 were back at the IAC80 for a demonstration of how to use the telescope, what procedures, what limitations, etc.
At this time, Thierry Garrel arrived and joined us.
We found out that the cameras needed to be slightly rotated in order to get horizontal spectra.
After that there was a problem with the focus. It was first achieved the focus of the camera which would provide the autoguiding.
Later, after focusing the science camera, the focus of the first was lost and could not be achieved.
A solution was tried, which consisted in the removal of a piece with a prisma through which we could eventually get the calibration spectra and the flats, and of an extension, buying a few centimeters of in focus, but yet not enough for the autoguiding.
The technical crew is still working in the problem.
We still have a long night ahead and we will continue with the experiences and tests and hope to have everything fully operational for tomorrow.
Alberto
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