Yesterday it was misting most of the day so we did not do any crane work. Instead we continued the work on the lift table modifications. Today, however, was very sunny, so we were able to finish the crane work at Site #2.  We also had time to install the pedestal at Site #3, and weather permitting, we expect to finish most, if not all, of the crane work at that site tomorrow.

We started the day by lifting the spyder ring and focus housing, after which we separated the center section from the primary mirror cell and lifted and installed it. (The mirror cell stays on the ground floor until the mirror is ready for installation.) We then finished by lifting the trusses for the focus housing support, the counterweights, the Dec drive mechanism, the electronics rack, and the mirror doors. After we completed the work at Site #2, the crane went up to Site #3 (with an assist from the SPM bucket loader to get up the hill) and we were able to get the pedestal installed before dinner.

Here are a bunch of photos form today.

Preparing to rig up the spyder ring and focus housing.

Lift underway.

Lift complete, spyder ring now on focus stand.

Rigging the center section and primary mirror cell.

Lifting items over to the ground floor entrance to the enclosure.

Center section separated form mirror cell and on its way to the top.

Bolting center section onto the fork.

Center section bolted into place.

Lifting the trusses which support the focus  housing.

Lifting the counterweights.

Lifting the Dec drive mechanism.

Installing brackets for Dec drive mechanism.

Loosening the Dec axis bearing in order to preload the bearings.

Measuring amount of preloading on Dec bearing. We couldn't finish this today, so we gave up in order to get the crane work done as soon as we can.

Lifting the electronics rack. We left the control electronics on the ground floor for now.

Lifting mirror doors.

Electronics rack and mirror door box (next photo) on observing floor. Crane work at Site #2 is now complete.

Mirror cell and mirror extraction tool on ground floor of enclosure.

Puling pedestal for Site #3 out of container.

Lifting pedestal.

Pedestal in place on the pier.