M1M3 Lift 2018

On the morning of October 25th, at the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab on the University of Arizona campus, the LSST Primary/Tertiary Mirror (M1M3) was successfully lifted out of its transport container and onto the M1M3 Cell. The mirror lift was performed with a special lifting fixture, outfitted with 54 vacuum pads, that was designed specifically to safely lift and lower the 37,000 lb (16,780 kg) glass monolith. The M1M3 Mirror was lifted onto the Cell, interfacing successfully with the 355 static supports (wire rope isolators), that hold it above the upper surface of the mirror cell.