Harnessing solar pressure to slew and point large infrared space telescopes

Details Harnessing solar pressure to slew and point large infrared space telescopes Harnessing solar pressure to slew and point large infrared space telescopes

Mar 2003

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2003spie.4850.1080e&link_type=abstract

IR Space Telescopes and Instruments. Edited by John C. Mather . Proceedings of the SPIE, Volume 4850, pp. 1080-1090 (2003).

Physics

Optics

Scientific paper

Large astronomical Gossamer telescopes in space will need to employ large solar shields to safeguard the optics from solar radiation. These types of telescopes demand accurate controls to maintain telescope pointing over long integration periods. We propose an active solar shield system that harnesses radiation pressure to accurately slew and acquire new targets without the need for reaction wheels or thrusters. To provide the required torques, the solar shield is configured as an inverted, 4-sided pyramidal roof. The sloped roof interior surfaces are covered with hinged “tiles” made from piezoelectric film bimorphs with specular metallized surfaces. Nominally, the tiles lie flat against the roof and the sunlight is reflected outward equally from all sloped surfaces. However, when the tiles on one roof pitch are raised, the pressure balance is upset and the sunshade is pushed to one side. By judicious selection of the tiles and control of their lift angle, the solar pressure can be harvested to stabilize the spacecraft orientation or to change its angular momentum. A first order conceptual design performance analysis and the results from the experimental design, fabrication and testing of piezoelectric bimorph hinge elements will be presented. Next phase challenges in engineering design, materials technology, and systems testing will be discussed.

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