for the Bermuda operations and final system testing were 

 accomplished during July and August, 1968. 



An appraisal of the design and test activities documented in 

 this report and Ref. 10 will reveal that a number of compromises 

 have been made between the sometimes conflicting dictates of sound 

 development engineering, the need for early scientific data, and 

 the limited resources available. While these conflicts exist in most 

 oceanographic projects today, we feel that some mention, if not 

 apology, for our course should be made. First of all it seems abun- 

 dantly clear that the technology is not available to support the de- 

 sign of an oceanic telescope which will survive the many years de- 

 sired to meet the ultimate scientific goals. This is particularly 

 true in the areas of cables, floats, electrical connectors, and bio- 

 logical factors. To an extent this shortcoming can be overcome 

 by the use of safety margins which are excessive in our circumstance. 

 On the other hand evaluation of available hardware and techniques, 

 and new developments where necessary, also had to be compromised 

 because of schedule and funding limitations. Secondly, our knowledge 

 of the environment, particularly the water velocity, topographical, 

 and biological factors is very inadequate. In this area, the desired 

 information can be had, but the necessary surveys would have been 

 prohibitively expensive and time-consuming. Finally, it was not 

 feasible to implement the vessel modifications and repairs required 

 for acceptable levels of risk to the hardware during installation. 

 As a consequence of these three basic limitations, the engineering 

 program has been characterized by a degree of risk which prompts 

 us to be prudently guarded in our expectations for continued success- 

 ful operation of the hardware. 



At this point it should be clear why the Oceanic Telescope is 

 labeled a Pilot Project. Considering the need for internal wave data, 

 the state-of-the-art in ocean engineering technology, and the current 

 funding environment, we feel that we have steered the proper course. 



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