To: Bob Robinson

From: Jon Hagen

Date: Nov. 19, 2001

Subject: Klystron Removal from Clear, Alaska

Dear Bob:

If klystron removal is to be done so soon ( Dec. 10), in a two-week campaign, we will need some very careful planning. Let me mention the following points:

1. Everything depends on the crates being at the base when the team arrives. I would say that nobody should make airline reservations until the crates are either on site or, at least, on their way with a firm arrival time at the gate of the base.

2. Victor Iguina and I estimate that the maximum rate for removing and packing klystrons will be about 6 per day. There is only a single overhead crane at the site. With careful teamwork, the crane can be kept busy while one group unbolts klystrons, a second group moves them, and a third group crates them, pressure tests them, checks their vacuum, drains, and flushes them. Will the base be open to the team for work past normal working hours?

3. Shipping arrangements should be in place so that a trucking company will be scheduled to arrive at the base every day to pick up another, say, six klystrons. I suppose they'll be taken to Fairbanks first. From there, I hope some freight forwarding company can get these tubes sent by sea from Anchorage at a cost far less than air freight - assuming there is sea freight mode at least as gentle on the tubes as air freight has been.

4. It seems unrealistic to count on the HIPAS people being able to unpack their klystrons in Fairbanks and return the crates to the base for reuse. This would require that they have a storage with area equipped already with an overhead crane and with storage racks or cradles for the klystrons. It is more likely that the best they'll be able to do in the short time available is arrange a warehouse space where a forklift can lower the crated klystrons from the truck to the floor.

5. There should be an understanding as to the distribution of the four or so old-style tubes, the L3403s. I hope that neither HIPAS nor Los Alamos is interested in these tubes, but they are the most desirable for both Millstone and Arecibo, at least for the short term, since they can be put into use without modifying the transmitters.

6. Klystrons surely have priority over other surplus transmitter items. I would guess that, after the klystrons have been removed and shipped, there might be little time left in which to remove and crate other items. I hope NSF's contractor for polar logistics, VECO, be available to deal with these items, which will at least be identified and marked for removal and shipment. For that matter, will VECO be available to help with the klystron removal and shipping?

Sincerely, Jon