A Scalable Superconductor Bearing System For Lunar Telescopes And Instruments

Details A Scalable Superconductor Bearing System For Lunar Telescopes And Instruments A Scalable Superconductor Bearing System For Lunar Telescopes And Instruments

Jan 2010

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2010aas...21548102c&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #215, #481.02; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 42, p.570

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

We report on a new concept for a telescope mount on the Moon based on high temperature superconductors (HTS). Lunar nights are long (15 days), and temperatures range from 100 K to 30 K inside shadowed craters. Telescopes on the Moon therefore require bearing systems that can position and track precisely under cryogenic conditions, over long time periods, preferably with no maintenance, and preferably do not fail with loss of power. HTS bearings, consisting of permanent magnets levitated over bulk superconductors, are well suited to the task. The components do not make physical contact, hence there is no wear. The levitation is passive and stable; no power is required to maintain position. We report on the design and laboratory demonstration of a prototype two-axis pointing system. Unlike previous designs, this new configuration is simple and easy to implement. Most importantly, it can be scaled to accommodate instruments ranging in size from decimeters (laser communication systems) to meters (solar panels, communication dishes, optical telescopes, optical interferometers) to decameters and beyond (VLA-type radio interferometer elements).

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

A Scalable Superconductor Bearing System For Lunar Telescopes And Instruments does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with A Scalable Superconductor Bearing System For Lunar Telescopes And Instruments, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and A Scalable Superconductor Bearing System For Lunar Telescopes And Instruments will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1887883