This is a brief report outlining some of the activities that were undertaken at the CSIRO's Parkes Telescope in preparation for the upcoming Mars Tracks, for the week commencing 11 August, 2003.

Click here to see the preliminary schedule for the first of the Mars test tracks commencing on 8 September, 2003. Track Schedule.

Click here to see the work that was performed in upgrading the dish surface in March 2003. Surface Upgrade.

Click here to see Status Report #1.
Click here to see Status Report #3.

Click on images to see the full-size versions

In the previous week, from 6-7 August, George Graves and Mark Bowen installed the backend rack of the Mars Receiver.

On 7 August, the Mars receiver was installed in the focus cabin. In the left image below we see the package being lowered onto the translator, with Feedhorn and Coupler installed. The middle image shows the package secured in place, powered up and cooled down to temperature. In the right image, the Feedhorn and Nitrogen Gas Window assembly is seen from inside the focus cabin radome (Gas enters at the top of the Noise Coupler Waveguide and the gas exit can be seen on the rim of the Feedhorn flange).

On 12 August, Tidbinbilla Comms Technicians Ewen Hopkins and Glenn Shephard, with assistance from Roger Lynch of CSIRO IT Services Canberra, completed the installation of the Data and Voice Network Equipment. Roger Lynch looks after the voice network of CSIRO and he was here to get the tie-lines operational between Parkes and Tidbinbilla. They were assisted by Andrew Hunt from Parkes Observatory. Ewen also, discussed the setup with Dr John Reynolds, the Officer-in-Charge of Parkes Observatory.

On 13 August, the DTT (Data Tracking and Telemetry) units were delivered and installed in the control room. Parkes staffers Barry Turner, Tom Lees, Jon Crocker, Ken Reeves, Brett Dawson and David Catlin lifted the units into place. They were assisted by Nigel Chauncy, Neil Webster and Kevin Piechowski from Tidbinbilla.

L-R: Nigel Chauncy, Neil Webster and Kevin Piechowski from Tidbinbilla, completed the installation of the units. The image on the right below, shows the position of the DTT's in relation to the backend rack (immediately behind) and the Data and Voice Network Equipment (on the far right).

Meanwhile, Simon Hoyle of Parkes Observatory is completing the Parkes Telescope's Visibility web page. With it, the telescope and receiver status will be accessible from off site, by selected personnel only. Simon is seen on 11 August, checking the Mars receiver status.