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Once More into the Breach

November 14, 2003

by Dr. Peter Backus, Observing Programs Manager

Deployment is the term we use at the Institute for what is perhaps our most enormous undertaking, Project Phoenix observing.  That the word derives from the language of warfare seems all too appropriate sometimes.  We make complex plans for transporting personnel and equipment across many miles, so that the right people and equipment arrive at the right place and time for best effect.  Some of both remain behind the line the people remain to provide support, the equipment we hold in reserve just in case.

Fortunately for our personnel, battle fatigue is temporary, limited to the weariness of a nine-hour flight and jet lag from jumping four time zones.  With a good nights sleep and a delicious caf con leche from the Observatory cafeteria, the troops were ready for the boxes.  John assembled the IF electronics, our interface to the observatorys receiver.  Mark erected the firewall and network.  Tom set up the control computers. 

Then John and I began the main assembly task, prepping the Programmable Detection Modules (PDMs).  Each PDM is a PC that contains some interface and signal processing boards that were wrapped in anti-static bubble wrap to protect them during shipping.  We carefully removed the wrapping then reinstalled the boards in twenty PDMs. While we were busy with this, Mark and Tom updated and tested the eight PDMs that wed left at Arecibo from our last observing run in April. After the six months of further PDM development in our Mountain View lab, the PDMs that stayed behind needed a few software and networking changes. 

The whole process: unpack, assemble, update, and perform initial tests, took about three days. We then spent week performing more detailed testing. During that week, three other team members arrived to help check our interface with the Arecibo receiver and telescope control systems. We are using a new receiver and some of the observatorys electronics that weve never used before. Everything had to be carefully tested.

Now, we wait for two more team members to arrive.  Then, on Monday, once more  

Fortunately for me, the team is motivated. I dont think I could match King Henrys St. Crispin's Day speech.  And in fact, by the time I hear the sound of the Gregorian feed slewing into place as we ready the telescope for our first night of observing, all of the challenges of the last few weeks will be forgotten once again.  As each of us turns our eyes to the enormous instrument we controlour ear to the starswe remember that this really is love, not war!