Integration of mirror design with suspension system using NASA's new mirror modeling software

William R. Arnold Sr.; Ryan M. Bevan; H. Philip Stahl

doi:10.1117/12.2023512

18 September 2013 Integration of mirror design with suspension system using NASA's new mirror modeling software

William R. Arnold Sr., Ryan M. Bevan, H. Philip Stahl

Proceedings Volume 8836, Optomechanical Engineering 2013; 88360J (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023512
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Advances in mirror fabrication are making very large space based telescopes possible. In many applications, only monolithic mirrors can meet the performance requirements. The existing and near-term planned heavy launch vehicles place a premium on lowest possible mass, and then available payload shroud sizes limit near term designs to 4 meter class mirrors. Practical 8 meter class and beyond designs could encourage planners to include larger shrouds, if it can be proven that such mirrors can be manufactured. These two factors, lower mass and larger mirrors, present the classic optimization problem. There is a practical upper limit to how large of a mirror can be supported by a purely kinematic mount system handling both operational and launch loads. This paper shows how the suspension system and mirror blank need to be designed simultaneously. We will also explore the concepts of auxiliary support systems which act only during launch and disengage on orbit. We will define required characteristics of these systems and show how they can substantially reduce the mirror mass.

Citation Download Citation

William R. Arnold Sr., Ryan M. Bevan, and H. Philip Stahl "Integration of mirror design with suspension system using NASA's new mirror modeling software", Proc. SPIE 8836, Optomechanical Engineering 2013, 88360J (18 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2023512

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