Wavefront Sensing & Control for a Large Segmented Space Telescope

Details Wavefront Sensing & Control for a Large Segmented Space Telescope Wavefront Sensing & Control for a Large Segmented Space Telescope

Jan 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009aas...21345003r&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, AAS Meeting #213, #450.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 41, p.342

Physics

Optics

Scientific paper

This poster presents an active optics control architecture for ATLAS-T16 - a proposed 16 m aperture space telescope, with a Primary Mirror composed of 32 separate hexagonal segments. ATLAS-T16 is intended to be launched in a in a large ARES rocket in the 2020 time frame. Like the James Webb Space Telescope, it would be launched in a folded configuration, and deployed after orbital insertion.
The ATLAS wavefront control problem is to align the PM segments and other optics following deployment, with initial errors in the mm and mrad range, to achieve diffraction limited performance in the UV and visible wavelengths at under 50 nm WF error (RMS) across the field. In this it is similar to JWST, though with considerably tighter WF error requirements.
ATLAS differs from JWST by being twice as large, with 4 times the collecting area, and with a correspondingly lighter and more flexible structure - factors that may require a continuous but low bandwidth WF and pointing control system to preserve optical quality throughout extended operational periods.
The poster will describe a WFSC architecture that provides both the initial WF control and continuous metrology of the various PM segments and other optics to assure excellent optical quality throughout the mission. Control requirements will be driven by scientific mission objectives, with the most taxing being high dynamic-range imaging for exoplanet observation. Initialization will utilized image- and spectrum-based measurements for WF sensing. Continuous metrology will be provided by an "optical truss," made up of multiple Laser Distance Gauges to measure and maintain the optical state of all major optical elements in the telescope.
Results from multiple testbeds and telescopes will be provided to illustrate control performance.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Wavefront Sensing & Control for a Large Segmented Space Telescope 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 Wavefront Sensing & Control for a Large Segmented Space Telescope, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Wavefront Sensing & Control for a Large Segmented Space Telescope will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1704990