GHOST Transport Update

Three 20-foot-long containers containing the GHOST spectrograph subassembly parts is now safely unloaded and stored on Cerro Pachón. These containers were at sea coming from Canada when the pandemic began disrupting operations in Chile, and arrived at port when there was uncertainty about our ability to transport them to the summit  For the past eight months the containers sat in the La Serena base facility parking lot, waiting for the end of the pandemic shutdown of the Gemini South telescope.

This milestone means we are now ready to resume the project. A significant number of the GHOST spectrograph subassembly parts are on site, including: the inner and outer enclosures, the optical bench, much of the electronics, and lots of assembly equipment. The remaining GHOST components yet to arrive include the spectrograph optics, detectors, slit viewer assembly, science optical fiber cable, and additional electronics, which will all be shipped via air. Clearance for our partner teams from Canada and Australia to travel to Chile is necessary for the completion of the project and we estimate it will take four months once travel commences.