Work continues on the spectacular and powerful Xtelescope designed for Skyscraper Observatory along with special Amping techniques that will amplify the diameter up to 100 times.
The telescope has run into numerous unending development challenges, the most recent solved was a rebuild, to metal machine the mounting. The first snafu was a skewed tripod in April that needed rebuilding and took about two months to complete. The mount machining took place over a one week period in the latter part of July when tools were purchased and a machine shop was quickly set up at the new location. Massive heat was another challenge approached in July. If left unchecked, the optics glue and other components could melt. Unexpected telescope OTA mass was prohibitive in assembly, plus a run-out of Skyway space necessitated new programming orientation during August.
Additional workings involve shielding from heat which required the design and construction of a telescope heat shield. That took about a week to manufacture and was completed and put into operations about 2 weeks ago near the end of July, however it will continue to have improvements and tweaking.
The system is awaiting the assembly of the most massive and heavy OTA optical tube assembly. It is unknown how this will be hoisted.
The heat shield is still in the works for the telescope, for withstanding the typical daytime temperatures around 122 deg. F in the Pacific Ocean.
Then, due to the oversized telescope, space began to quickly run out on the skyway. This will require specialized programming and compensation during use.
The observatory is now waiting for the massive and heavy OTA to hoist up high on the mounting and install the anti-vibration devices, execute leveling and calibrations, attach the additional scopes, access the operation of the star sensing AI, and develop operations for limited space function.
The first five software packages are now installed (in July) and equipment is standing by at Mission Control.
Mars is around opposition and closest approach, although besieged by a global dust storm obliterating surface features by dust for over a month. Contrast of features is extremely low and the storm is slowly settling down somewhat as some surface features are beginning to return in the dust.
