Subaru Telescope Enclosure Rain Leak Investigation & Renovation

Ground-based telescope observatories are typically located in harsh environments.  Due to their location, they are subject to a wide range of severe environmental conditions such as seismic events, strong winds and large diurnal temperature swings including freeze/thaw cycles.  It is common for telescope observatories to experience fatigue and degradation as a result of their unique dynamic use within these harsh environmental conditions.  One specific result of this degradation includes rainwater leakage into the rotating telescope enclosure.  This water leakage has the potential to cause serious damage to interior components of the telescope enclosure, including the telescope and its sensitive instruments.

Innovative techniques for detecting rainwater leakage include the use of a thermal imaging camera conjunction with an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) / drone.  Standard RGB photography accompanies thermal integrated analysis to allow a non-invasive peer into the health of the telescope enclosure.  The drone and its specialized camera capture visual data to identify any abnormality found and cross reference the thermal anomaly to a physical place on the structure.  Traditional techniques used for detection include trained and experienced personnel physically observing the structure alongside the data captured by the drone.

M3 provided both on-site inspection and thermal imaging via UAS to investigate leakage issues at the Subaru Telescope Enclosure on Maunakea in Hawaii.  M3 also provided recommendations for renovations to reduce rainwater leakage in the future.