1. Infrastructure & Technology

What happens if the power or internet goes down? MFL is engineered for redundancy. We operate a 100% "All-Electric" facility using DC battery chains to ride out grid fluctuations without dropping your exposure. For network stability, our primary multi-gigabit fiber line is backed by a dedicated, roof-mounted Starlink Business array. If the primary line drops, the facility automatically fails over to satellite.

How does my software control the Roll-Off Roof (ROR)? Seamlessly. Every MFL micro-observatory utilizes heavy-duty gate motors driven by ASCOM-certified relay controllers (like the Lunatico Dragonfly or SkyRoof). This means your roof array natively integrates with all major automation suites (N.I.N.A., Voyager, ACP, Sequence Generator Pro) via standard ASCOM/Alpaca protocols.

What happens if my PC crashes and it starts raining? MFL utilizes a hardware-level "Dead Man's Switch." Every roof controller is hardwired directly to our central telemetry grid. If the system detects severe weather, high wind shear, or a security event, the facility triggers an automated emergency roof closure for everyone open—completely independent of your computer.

How do you handle desert dust and heat? We actively fight it. Every enclosure is structurally sealed with custom-fabricated rubber flanges and runs a dedicated 9,000 BTU HEPA-filtered mini-split AC. We maintain positive pressure to lock out fine silica dust and eliminate thermal focus shifting on your optics.

What if I have my own network/server gear? Great. Our DMARC building offers 4-post and 2-post racks or secure cabinet server enclosures if required.

What kind of electrical connections are available? Each customer pad is engineered with conduit back to our AC electrical distribution plant as well as our network stack inside of the DEMARC, which allows us to supply whatever you require. For equipment in the DEMARC, or in your space, we offer 120/240V single phase, dedicated breakers, with additional power for purchase. In your space, we terminate 120V to a standard 5-15P quad outlet, and then to a dedicated rack mount battery unit, which then has an Emerson 12VDC power supply. This unit can be swapped for 5-48VDC and can be mounted to a DIN rail setup as well. You are not required to use our DC power system -AC power is battery and generator backup.

What are you actual network connections?

Copper: 100meg, 1Gig, 10Gig, and 25Gig RJ-45 copper cat6.

Optical: 10Gig, 100Gig, 400Gig LR, singlemode (typically requires attenuation)

Optical Internet infrastructure allows us to provision a dynamic traffic policy so that any member cannot exceed 100Mbps during peak overnight periods where we have to ensure 0% loss and no network saturation. If the network is not applying a policer, clients should see up to 5Gbps symmetric capacity.

2. "Smart Hands" & Optical Support

What is included in 24/7 "Smart Hands" support? Our technicians are available on-site full-time as an intelligent hands and eyes for your deployment. Standard support is included in your membership and covers essentially unlimited physical infrastructure tasks: power cycling, network troubleshooting, cable routing/seating, swapping threaded components (like a new camera), and dry-dusting exterior corrector plates. We also have a variety of Standard Operating Procedures like calibrations, resets, etc.

How fast is support? Our ticketing system allows you to submit requests with an indicated priority -the default being P3. P3 requests have a target SLA of 48-hours to resolve. P0 requests will SMS the active technician and are intended for actual emergencies (you saw UAP land). P2 requests are processed as by “next-night” -typically before the start of the next night unless submitted the same day. We try to have a rolling SLA which attempts to match the client’s urgency with as soon as we can.

Will you clean my camera sensor or primary mirror? MFL is an infrastructure provider, not a primary optics repair shop. Standard support does not cover wet-cleaning primary mirrors, disassembling sealed CMOS camera sensors, or opening mounted gearboxes. If you require deep optical servicing or other complex tasks, we will do them, but may require cut-sheets, build orders, or a liability waiver for incredibly expensive things.

3. Logistics & Access

Can I physically visit the facility to install my gear? Yes. To maintain strict physical security, absolute dust control, and thermal stability for all active clients, MFL operates a controlled-campus datacenter model. Customers require escorted access when on the site.

How do I get my equipment installed? Three options: 1) you come and install it. We are about 30 minutes from multiple hotels or the surrounding area is loaded with AirBNBs (some as close as 5mins away). You can drive things to us, ship them to us, or helicopter them in. 2) MFL installs it. Requires instructions from you and a liability waiver depending on your hardware. 3) Have a professional firm install: several companies in Southern California specialize in installation, mounting, and maintenance of nice telescopes and their mounts. We work with all of them.

Can I store backup equipment at the lab? Yes. Space in your dedicated micro-observatory is yours to use. You can store extra filters, spare cables, backup batteries, or a secondary optical tube directly on-site for rapid deployment by our technician.

Receiving: MFL is capable of receiving anything that can be delivered by air or truck but we do not have a dock-height dock -you need a liftgate. UPS, FedEx, Amazon, and others deliver to the facility. We can open, photograph, store, or do things with items sent to us -all via an inbound shipping ticket. We are also capable of receiving extremely sensitive items at our LA office.

Shipping: MFL will contract crating companies, freight forwarders, or the UPS store to send your parts back to you or to their manufacturer. Since this can be complicated and infrequent we handle these on an ad-hoc basis.

4. Insurance & Liability Allocation

MFL Facility Insurance (What MFL Covers): Mojave Field Lab LLC carries comprehensive Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance and Commercial Property insurance, as well as other specialized insurance. This covers the DEMARC building, the structural micro-observatories, the concrete pads, the network infrastructure, and physical people on-site.

Client Equipment Insurance: MFL operates as a strict infrastructure colocation provider. Client optical and mounting hardware is not insured by default from MFL. * All Vanguard and Standard Tier members are contractually required to carry their own "Inland Marine" or specialized astronomical equipment insurance policies (readily available through providers like State Farm or specialized hobbyist underwriters) to cover their physical hardware.

MFL can add specialty policies for pass-through fees or accept Additionally Insured commercial coverages.

5. Environmental Resilience

The high desert presents three existential threats to precision optics: extreme thermal loads, fine silica dust, and sudden wind/monsoon events. MFL is not a passive facility; it actively monitors the environment.

Thermal Mitigation: Telescopes suffer from "thermal focus shift" as temperatures change, and expensive CMOS camera sensors struggle to cool themselves against hot ambient air. MFL solves this by over-engineering the HVAC. Every single micro-observatory is equipped with its own dedicated, continuous-duty 9,000 BTU (23 SEER) mini-split heat pump.

Silica Dust Defense (Positive Pressure): MFL structures are sealed using custom-fabricated rubber flanges and thick exterior weather-wrapping. When the roof is closed, the dedicated AC unit runs a HEPA filter and maintains slight positive air pressure inside the pod, actively pushing dust away from the structural seams.

High-Wind & Weather Interrupts: Desert weather can shift in minutes. MFL utilizes a centralized, hardwired telemetry grid featuring ultrasonic anemometers and precipitation sensors. If wind shear exceeds a safe operational threshold (e.g., 25 mph) or moisture is detected, the facility’s "Dead Man’s Switch" overrides all client software and physically triggers the heavy-duty gate motors to close all Roll-Off Roofs.

Are the telescope piers isolated from the floor? Yes. Every standard pod includes a 12-inch, high-PSI cast concrete pier that is structurally decoupled from the surrounding 5x5 slab via a dense rubber expansion barrier. Our technician can walk into your pod to check a cable without their footsteps ruining your active exposure.