System Assembly and integration started by mid 2011. The electromechanical tests have been successfully completed by mid 2012, confirming and even exceeding the expected dynamic performances. In Sep 2012 the system left Microgate's facilities for integration in the hub and optical tests and calibration, performed at ESO premises in Garching under Microgate's responsibility, in cooperation with INAF-Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri. The optical tests have been completed in March 2013, confirming the full performance of the adaptive mirror. The unit passed a long (2.5 years) testing and calibration phase in Garching (D), in conjunction with the new adaptive optics modules (Graal, Galacsi) before installation on the telescope. In October 2016 the deformable secondary mirror was installed on the Unit Telescope 4 (Yepun).

ESO Announcements:

• 28-oct-2016 - First Light for Largest Adaptive Optics System
• 4-feb-2014 - Improved Adaptive Optics Mirror Delivered
• 18-feb-2013 - Super-thin Mirror Under Test at ESO
• 2-mar-2012 - Super-thin Mirror for Sharper Star Images
• 7-sep-2010 -  The Art of Sculpting Glass

Papers

• VLT Deformable Secondary Mirror: integration and electromechanical tests results
• VLT DSM, the control system of the largest deformable secondary
  mirror ever manufactured