Preliminary design of the International X-ray Observatory flight mirror assembly

Details Preliminary design of the International X-ray Observatory flight mirror assembly Preliminary design of the International X-ray Observatory flight mirror assembly

Aug 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009spie.7437e...8m&link_type=abstract

Optics for EUV, X-Ray, and Gamma-Ray Astronomy IV. Edited by McClelland, Ryan S.; Carnahan, Timoth M.; Choi, Michael K.; Robinso

Physics

Optics

Scientific paper

The Flight Mirror Assembly (FMA) preliminary mechanical design for NASA's next major X-ray telescope mission, the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO), has been developed at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). The design addresses some unique engineering challenges presented by the unprecedented combination of high angular resolution and large effective area required to achieve the desired scientific objectives. To meet these requirements, the Wolter-I Soft X-Ray Telescope (SXT) optical design consists of about 14,000 0.4 mm thick glass mirror segments densely packed into a 3.4 m diameter FMA and supported with micron level accuracy and stability. Key engineering challenges addressed include ensuring positive stress margins for the glass segments with a high Factor of Safety, keeping the structure light enough to launch, providing a large effective area, and preventing unacceptable thermal distortion. Standard mechanical design techniques such as FEM modeling and optimization, integrated optomechanical analysis, and development testing were applied to this unique problem. The thin mirror segments are mounted into 60 intermediate wedge shaped structures called modules. Modules are kinematically mounted to the FMA primary structure which is optimized for minimum mass and obscuration of the clear aperture. The preliminary design demonstrates the feasibility of building and launching a large space-based SXT using slumped glass mirrors which meets the IXO effective area, mass, structural, and thermal requirements.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Preliminary design of the International X-ray Observatory flight mirror assembly 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 Preliminary design of the International X-ray Observatory flight mirror assembly, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Preliminary design of the International X-ray Observatory flight mirror assembly will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1301992