Sub-Platform Design for Keck II Telescope Installed with Adaptive Optics Laser Instruments

The W.M. Keck Observatory, a pair of 10-meter telescopes atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii, is developing a Next Generation Adaptive Optics (NGAO) System.  NGAO instruments, such as lasers, provide sharper images and viewing of fainter objects.  The goal of this project is to design a sub-platform under the Right Nasmyth deck of the Keck II telescope to support components for NGAO.  These include three laser electronics cabinets and a dedicated heat exchanger to cool the electronics.  The platform location, size, shape, and instrument placement must accommodate numerous design constraints.  For instance, the platform must support the weight of the instruments, all instruments must be accessible by at least one meter of clearance for maintenance, and the laser enclosures must be less than 6.0 meters away from the telescope’s cable-wrap.  Furthermore, the sub-platform and instruments must be able to withstand seismic activities on Mauna Kea, adhere to all OSHA requirements and International Building Codes.  Multiple design iterations will be modeled using 3-D computer-aided design software, and a final optimal design was selected.  A support frame and its connections to the telescope frame will be designed, followed by safety railings and cable trays.  The design will be analyzed for deflections and structural integrity using finite element analysis software.  Finally, a detailed plan for installing the instruments on the sub-platform will be devised.  This platform design will support the Keck Observatory in the development of NGAO, keeping Keck as a leader in astronomical research and discoveries.