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Regarding planned building improvements and the correction of fire and safety hazards, work will begin in the fall of 1980 on the north and south entrances to provide ease of access and better safety conditions. Improvements for handicapped access will be made on the Constitution Avenue side and will bring the building into compliance with existing regulations. Over the planning period, strong efforts will be made to correct deficiencies in the sprinkler systems, alarms, and other equipment in this sixty-year-old building. While the Natural History Building contains the most serious problems, other buildings of the Institution have fire detection and prevention problems to be addressed over the next 5-10 years. Further details appear in the facilities chapter of this document.

[[underline]] Astrophysical Observatory. [[/underline]] Over the next five-year period, the Observatory expects to emphasize its ground-based observational programs, taking full advantage of the capability of the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT) and other facilities at Mt. Hopkins. The MMT was officially dedicated in the spring of FY 1979 but will not be fully operational until mid-FY 1981. It has already produced significant scientific data, and at present is being used one week per month. Staff and funding increases will be needed to utilize and maintain the MMT, and to some extent other observational facilities at Mt. Hopkins; new instruments, for example, on-site data recording and image processing will be needed to make full use of the MMT's capability. Scientific and technical staff will also be needed to design, develop, and operate the new instruments and systems. An agreement has formally been negotiated with the University of Arizona to operate the MMT for both the University and the Smithsonian, and is now in the process of being implemented.

Increased emphasis will continue to be given during the next five years to theoretical astrophysics, X-ray astronomy, radio astronomy, and solar physics (the Langley-Abbot Program). Some staff and funding increases will be necessary to strengthen and exploit the potential of these areas as demonstrated, for example, by the wealth of scientific data provided by the Einstein space laboratory (the orbiting HEAO-2 X-ray telescope). In addition, the Observatory will continue to seek to correct the administrative and program resource imbalance that has resulted in the federal and trust funded areas over the years because of the heavy dependence on trust activity (federal grants and contracts) for administrative support.

Continued development of facilities at Mt. Hopkins is required to complement the expanded program there as a result of the installation of the MMT. Construction of the day-sleeper dormitory was completed in October 1979; contruction of the dining-common building is expected to begin in May of 1980. In addition, funds will be requested over the next several