Optical pathlength stabilization between formation-flying air-bearing robots

Edward A. LeMaster

doi:10.1117/12.826269

26 August 2009 Optical pathlength stabilization between formation-flying air-bearing robots

Edward A. LeMaster

Proceedings Volume 7436, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts IV; 74360G (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826269
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2009, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The Precision Formation Control project seeks to demonstrate experimentally the capability to perform optical pathlength stabilization of a visible-laser interferometer beam operating between two formation-flying robotic airbearing space-vehicle emulators in a terrestrial laboratory environment, as a precursor to future separated-spacecraft interferometer missions. The multi-tiered architecture utilizes laser sensors for inter-vehicle sensing, proportional pneumatic thrusters for vehicular control, and a piezo-actuated delay line for optical pathlength control. In the lab environment, relative stationkeeping between vehicles has been demonstrated to better than 9 μm in position and 11 μrad in rotation (1-σ). Simultaneously, the inter-vehicle optical pathlength has been stabilized to less than 190 nm, 1-σ.

Citation Download Citation

Edward A. LeMaster "Optical pathlength stabilization between formation-flying air-bearing robots", Proc. SPIE 7436, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts IV, 74360G (26 August 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.826269

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