fect the rest of the AO system . And finally , one functionality of the existing system — the focus sensing of the natural guide stars — cannot be incorporated in the NGS2 design . Therefore , one of the existing peripheral wavefront sensors will take over that function .
Very good progress has been made to date in the detector upgrade . Essentially the opto-mechanical system and the detector system have been completed and are going through the final stages of integration and alignment at the ANU laboratories . Figure 2 shows a recent picture of the NGS2 system on the bench .
The system is in a very advanced stage of development and currently undergoing the final stages of alignment . Figure 2 also shows a recent picture of the built NGS2 module on the bench , ready for testing . Formal Acceptance Testing was successfully carried out in early December .
Still , much work remains to be done . In particular , a significant amount of software development is pending while resources are very tight . Also the integration of NGS2 into Canopus will be a delicate activity and require extensive testing , during which time it cannot be used for science . Hence planning of this activity must be done with care . We have great expectations for this new natural guide star system and expect that NGS2 can be delivered to the Observatory during the course of 2017 . We intend to report on further progress in future issues of GeminiFocus .
January 2017
— Rene Rutten
Gemini South Laser Guide Star Facility News
On October 5-6 , the Gemini South Laser Guide Star Facility completed its Factory Acceptance Test ( FAT ) readiness review at Toptica AG Photonics in Munich , Germany ( Figures 4 and 5 ). The actual FAT occurred
between November 28 – December 2 and was successful ; all the requirements met the specifications established in the contract . Also , the Toptica team provided initial training to Gemini South scientists and engineers attending the FAT . The Toptica laser was shipped on December 2nd and arrived safely at Cerro Pachón on December 13th ( Figure 3 ). We plan postshipping Acceptance Testing ( AT ) in January 2017 . During the post-shipping AT , we will verify the laser survived the shipping , maintaining all functionality at the specified performance . We plan to start installing the laser ’ s subsystems at the telescope in May 2017 , with commissioning on-sky in August 2017 .
— Manuel Lazo GeminiFocus
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Figure 3 . Emmanuel Chirre ( left ) and Cristian Moreno stand guard over the new Toptica laser .
Figure 4 . The Gemini South laser system being integrated at Toptica . The Electronics Cabinet ( at left ) is connected to the laser head without the protective covers ( at right ) through the black fiber splice boxes ( at center ).
Figure 5 . The Gemini South laser cabinet just before connecting to the laser head during the FAT readiness review on October 5-6 . Image credt : All three images by Manuel Lazo