Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope: integration, testing, and commissioning planning

What is it about?

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) has been in its construction phase since 2010, anticipating the onset of the integration, test, and commissioning (IT&C) phase in early 2017, and the commencement of science verification in 2019. The works on Haleakala are progressing at a phenomenal rate and many of the various subsystems are either through or about to enter their Factory (or Laboratory) acceptance. The delays in obtaining site planning permissions, while a serious issue for Project Management, has allowed the sub-systems to develop well ahead of their required delivery to site. We have benefited from the knowledge that many sub-systems will be on site and ready for integration well before affecting the critical path. Opportunities have been presented for additional laboratory/factory testing which, while not free, significantly reduce the risks of potential delays and rework on site. From the perspective of IT&C this has provided an opportunity to develop the IT&C plans and schedules free from the pressures of imminent deployment. In this paper we describe the ongoing planning of the Integration, Testing and Commissioning (IT&C) phase of the project in particular the detailed planning phase that we are currently developing.

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