2nd Extended TAO Technical Meeting and TAO External Review Were Held

As the design of the telescope and ancillary facilities progressed and some of their production started, the second extended technical meeting and external review were held. Following these meetings, we will accelerate the detailed design and the production to complete the construction of the telescope together with the related institutions and companies.

2nd Extended TAO Technical Meeting

The second extended TAO technical meeting was held on July 24, 2014. 42 people participated, including those from companies and institutions designing/producing the telescope, as well as from administration office of the University of Tokyo via TV conference system.

▲Group photo of the participants at Mitaka

At the meeting, TAO member reported the current status of the design and production of components. The participants re-confirmed and comprehended not only the status of their section, but also the overall schedule and progress of the TAO project. During tea breaks, those from companies had friendly discussions each other, The meeting is clearly a good occasion for all of us to unite in resolve for complete the telescope.

▲ The meeting place
▲ Presentations

Contributed Companies/Institutions

• Nishimura Co. Ltd
• Kokusai Land & Development Co. Ltd
• Sanko Seikohjyo Co. Ltd
• Coretech Co. Ltd
• LPP Kyoto Niji Koubou
• MRJ CO. Ltd
• NIPR Technical Challenges in Earth's Polar Regions Group
• ADD Plannning Co. Ltd

See the following link for the 1st extended TAO technical meeting held on Jan 24, 2014.
http://www.ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/TAO/news/20140124/index.html

2nd TAO External Review Meeting

The second TAO external review was held on July 30, 2014. The review committee consists of the following experts who has deep experience in telescope fabrications and operations. Including the TAO members, 29 people in total attended the meeting.

• Hiroyasu Ando (Professor emeritus at NAOJ, former director of Subaru Telescope )
• Tomonori Usuda (Professor at NAOJ, Director of TMT Project Office)
• Takuya Yamashita (Professor at NAOJ, TMT Project Office)
• Hideki Takami (Professor at NAOJ, TMT Project Office and Chief of Engineering Division)
• Kanzawa Tomio (Chief Research Engineer at NAOJ, Nobeyama Observatory)
• Fumihide Iwamuro (Associate Professor at Department of Astrophysics of Kyoto University)
• Michitoshi Yoshida (Professor at Hiroshima University, Director of Hiroshima Astrophysical Science Center)
• Norikazu Mizuno (Associate Professor at NAOJ, Chile Observatory Participated via TV conference system)
• Daigo Tomono (Assistant Professor at NAOJ, Subaru Telescope Participated via TV conference system)
• Takashi Onaka (Professor at University of Tokyo, Department of Astrnomy *Participated via TV conference system)

The meeting started with the status report of the design and fabrication of the telescope by the TAO members, and followed by active discussions about usability and operation of the telescope. Various topics from fabrication to operation, not only about technical ones but also about safety, desert environments, hireing daycrews, and toilet problems, were discussed and advised by the committee based on their deep experience. We will incorporate these ideas into the design and operation of the telescope.

▲The review meeting.

See the following link for the 1st external review held on July 3, 2013. http://www.ioa.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp/TAO/en/news/20130703/index.html