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Oil pump problems - operations suspended

1540 UT 6 May 2005

The recent problems with the azimuth axis' hydrostatic bearing system have now been fixed, and appear to have functioned very well when we resumed normal telescope operations. Unfortunately the scavenge pump has started drawing abnormally high current, so operations have been suspended until an inspection is carried out in order to protect the equipment. This is in an unrelated section of the hydraulic system to the previous azimuth fault. A flight to site has been booked for 10/05/05 and we hope to have the telescope back on-line very soon thereafter.