The University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory 6.5m telescope: update of the Near-Infrared Echelle Spectrograph NICE as the first light instrument

The Near-Infrared Cross-dispersed Echelle spectrograph (NICE) is a first light instrument for the TAO 6.5 m telescope. The instrument covers a wavelength range of 0.9 to 2.4 µm and has a resolving power of λ/∆λ ~2,600. NICE was first used on the 1.5 m infrared telescope at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan from 2001 to 2005 and on the 1.6 m Pirka telescope in Japan from 2009 to 2018. We are now upgrading the cryogenics and computer system for the installation of NICE on the TAO telescope. Here we report on the current status and future schedules of instrumentation updates, control system, and modified specifications of NICE for its transfer to the TAO 6.5 m telescope.