A Battery Box for Manual AST/RO Telescope Motion

Each axis of the AST/RO telescope is driven by two gearhead/ motor/tachometer/brake packages. When the motors are in place and their output gears are meshed with the main drive gears, the telescope drive bearings are immobilized by the brakes, which are engaged unless energized. There will be numerous circumstances where the bearings need to be moved during telescope assembly, but the drive system is not available. Also, there may be emergency situations at the South Pole where the telescope must be moved but power is unavailable. This memorandum describes a minimal hardware solution to these problems - a small, battery-powered box that can be used to release the brakes and safely move one axis of the telescope.