The annual antenna maintenance is now almost complete. We have put a lot of work to replace a large number of carbon fiber panels on antennas 1, 2 and 4. All these panels (87 in total) were showing through the years clear signs of an irremediable and incessant degradation of the Hostaflon surface, a consequence of the longstanding pin-hole problem which affects part of the surface of our first generation antennas. The replacement was made with a selected but well-preserved set of panels gathered in from antenna 3. This antenna was already completely re-equipped with aluminium panels during the 1997 antenna maintenance period.
Holography and surface adjustment of these antennas are already underway and will, if weather allows, be completed in time for the begin of the winter session.
R. Neri