1. Engineering Operations Outage Status: New shielding of HHFW/in-vessel components has been completed. Fit-ups of OH bus lead upgrades to reduce error fields complete. Parts will be fabricated but not immediately installed. The NBI group has replaced the 1st ion source, with the 2nd in final testing. The 3rd-5th are assembled. The TIV has been replaced and calorimeter inspected. New bake-out system controls for NB conditioning during the vessel bake are installed and being tested. Diagnostic ground (Class 2) upgrade and add’l class 4 power circuits. ASIPP has materials to fabricate the new OH coil.

2. Engineering Operations Outage Schedule: In-vessel access will end on November 9th. The NB duct will be re-installed on November 21st for a late November pump-down and leak check. Twelve days of bake-out will be performed in early December. NB ion source conditioning will go on in parallel with the bake. Cooldown, leak checking, and add’l time for diagnostic calibrations will follow with plans to start the ISTP in mid January. Plasma operations is expected in the second half of January. An early start this year will give us the add’l time needed next year to install the new OH coil, and possibly to implement a liquid lithium divertor.

3. NSTX Run Assessment FY08 Outage Planning: New OH Coil will require considerable work at PPPL (Ground paint, insulation, flux loops, TC’s, Rogowski’s, etc). NSTX Machine disassembly will not start until the OH coil is tested. While machine is apart, cooling lines will be added to protect the upper vacuum seals during a full bake of the upper divertor tiles. Lower TF hub will be disassembled and will allow for inspection of flag joints. Upper joints may be inspected as needed. The Liquid Lithium Divertor is a major piece of this puzzle, and is still a ways away from having a complete conceptual design.