Extremely Lightweight Space Telescope Mirrors With Integrated Active Figure Control

Pierre Y. Bely; John F. Bolton

doi:10.1117/12.960841

20 September 1989 Extremely Lightweight Space Telescope Mirrors With Integrated Active Figure Control

Pierre Y. Bely, John F. Bolton

Proceedings Volume 1114, Active Telescope Systems; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.960841
Event: SPIE 1989 Technical Symposium on Aerospace Sensing, 1989, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

A concept for an extremely lightweight primary mirror for a large space telescope is proposed. The mirror uses a sandwich structure composed of aluminum faceplates with an aluminum foam core. Modal analysis indicates that a fundamental frequency of 100 Hz can be obtained for a 6 meter diameter mirror with a tapered back and having a total mass of about 3500 kg. An array of thermal actuators embedded in the mirror corrects for figure errors. Such an active thermal figure control system does not have a quick response, but is well suited to space applications where disturbances have relatively long time constants. The advantage of thermal actuators is very high reliability, a primary concern in any space system requiring a large number of actuators.

Citation Download Citation

Pierre Y. Bely and John F. Bolton "Extremely Lightweight Space Telescope Mirrors With Integrated Active Figure Control", Proc. SPIE 1114, Active Telescope Systems, (20 September 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.960841

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