In preparation for flight hardware, engineers and technicians at NASA Goddard are installing our engineering design unit (EDU) mirror onto the pathfinder backplane. The pathfinder is a test version of the backplane, which is the spine of the telescope, supporting the mirrors and instruments. The EDU is a gold-coated flight spare mirror. Though here it has a cover on it to protect it. A robot arm is being used to move the mirror over the backplane and to aid in installation.

Image credit: Maggie Masetti

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