Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors

Details Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors

Sep 2002

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2002spie.4771..155h&link_type=abstract

Proc. SPIE Vol. 4771, p. 155-164, Optomechanical Design and Engineering 2002, Alson E. Hatheway; Ed.

Physics

Optics

Scientific paper

The title for this paper derives from the method selected for upgrading an older telescope which needed to meet current range instrumentation requirements in the infrared portion of the optical spectrum. A major constraint imposed on the project at its outset was the need to keep the older telescope tube, tracking mount and mobile platform at its home base in Florida. In contrast to the traditional way of building telescopes by first designing the optical system and then designing the housing and mount, this upgrade began with fitting a new structure within the confines of the existing housing while increasing the usable aperture from a 29.5 inch diameter Classical Cassegrainian design to a 32 inch aperture system. This new structure evolved from an improved design approach including the use of low thermal coefficient of expansion materials, special baffles and modern alignment techniques. The tube which was to serve as the bottle, was stripped of its optical components while a completely new internal structure was fabricated independently at a facility in California. The redesign and fabrication process began with a search for the original optical design data and a shopping list of parts to be either modified or redesigned to fit the existing light path through a donut ring which incorporates the telescope's trunnion axis, to a second folding mirror thus enabling an infrared camera to be focused along an overhead track parallel to the telescope's optical axis. All of the original optics were reassembled and potted into new mounts. The secondary mirror was placed into a large ball-knuckle assembly which insured rapid and precise alignment. During the process of building the independent structure, an installation kit or erector set was created. This erector set included special tooling for attaching a large headring, all four metering rods, baffles and adapters as well as the primary mirror retaining ring, inside the original tube. All hardware was shipped to the field site in Florida where final assembly took place using only heavy lifting equipment and a minimum of inexpensive alignment devices.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors 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 Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1128542