March 2026 marked a key milestone for iLocater on its path to first light at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). Following an instrument pre-ship review in October 2025 and an observatory readiness review in March 2026, the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory (LBTO) Board unanimously approved shipment of the instrument and the start of commissioning.
This approval reflects the extensive work completed by the iLocater team to bring the instrument from a second generation instrument concept in 2014, through to the completed instrument today. Beginning at the University of Notre Dame and concluding with final integration at The Ohio State University, this decade-long effort culminated in a successful pre-ship review and laboratory demonstration of the instrument’s readiness to deliver science once commissioned at the LBT.
In parallel, the observatory has undertaken substantial preparations for iLocater’s arrival, including construction of a dedicated thermally stabilized enclosure to meet the instruments stability requirements. This will enable precision radial velocity science with iLocater at the LBT, and support the long-term operation of the instrument.