The local SPM staff got the first primary mirror coated today. They are already getting ready to coat the second one, and we hope to have all three done in the next few days.

Here are some photos.

Mirror in crate. Still covered with protective later of plastic film.

Lifting mirror out of crate. Piece of glass weighs 900 lbs.

Mirror on cart.

Protective film removed.

Putting on coating fixture to hang mirror in vacuum chamber.

Preparing to lift mirror with coating fixture.

Mirror installed on vacuum chamber cover.

Vacuum chamber.

Optics guys doing a Ronchi test on the mirror.

Ready to close the vacuum chamber for coating.

Heating elements (the helical wires) with blobs of aluminum to coat the mirror.

Here is a video of the optics guys closing the vacuum chamber.

Taking a peek at the mirror after coating. It looks good!

Removing the mirror from the coating facility to temporary storage.