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| A CiDR Engineer operates the WWII-era temporal device during an experiment in early 2009. |
"The thing was built in the 40's," said Jessica Lawrence, Temporal Dynamics Engineer, "It needs maintenance just like anything that old would."
In 2012 there was discussion of permanently decommissioning the device, but CiDR researchers still feel it has scientific value and it is also more cost effective perform a retrofit than it would be to build a new device of the same scale.
"We think we can still get a lot of use out of it," adjunct researcher Justyn Myers said, "The purity of the original crystal alone makes this machine very important. And it just makes sense to keep using it. Just think of how long NASA used the space shuttles before they were decommissioned."
The plans include upgrades to key systems like the power injection bushings, cooling system, Horologium crystal mounting system, control systems, safety systems and plasma reactor. These upgrades and repairs are intended to improve functionality and safety of the device.
The Engineering Core also plans to add several new systems, including a new sensor array that will allow researchers to gather more data with the device. This upgrade will also make the device more compatible with newer technology that can be added later.
The Engineering Core has set a rigorous deadline of four months to complete the retrofit, and has already begun work in a laboratory in San Francisco.