Pasadena, CA – One of TMT’s most important components – its huge primary mirror that spans over 30 meters – continues to be manufactured around the world. Last week, TMT Project Office Engineers Scott Shankle and Joshua Church participated in the receiving inspection of 18 M1 Blanks in India, the first blanks that will be polished and hex cut in India as part of TMT’s 492 primary mirror segments, from Japan.
The 18 mirror blanks arrived safely from Japan in early January 2020, after a combination of freight shipping by boat, rail, and truck. They are presently stored in the India TMT Optics Fabrication Facility (ITOFF) inspection area, at IIA Crest Campus, Bengaluru.
The inspection of the first batch of TMT blanks was performed at delivery within ITOFF, by members of the India Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru. The examinations demonstrated that the blanks comply with its specifications, and confirmed the manufacturer achieved excellent quality.
The India TMT Coordination Centre (ITCC) is responsible for the Indian share of technology development and science research toward building TMT.
TMT’s 30-meter mirror will be used to gather light from the universe and allow us to see deeper into space than ever seen before.
For more information on the ITOFF facility, click here:
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