[mmaimcal] Progress from the competition at SMA, and Vertex

[Al Wootten]

*  NEWS FLASH!!!! The first holography measurements on Antenna 5 yield an     *
*  rms error of 65 microns, about the norm for freshly deployed antennas.     *
*                                                                             *
*  First fringes with four antennas and six baselines at *** 345 GHz ***      *
*  were obtained on Saturn and CRL 618 on SUN SEP 2.                          *

Baars reported today at the E-AEC meeting on antenna tests at Vertex this
week.  A photogrammetric method provides 5 micron accuracy over 1 sq meter
of surface; in 10 minutes 50-60 pictures are taken and fed into a computer
which provides a contour plot of the surface 10 minutes later.  The test was
of a BUS (I think) with two panels.  Temperature was changed 20C to 45 C
and no change in rms surface accuracy could be measured.  All were pleased
with this result.

Clear skies,
Al