On-orbit alignment of the spectrograph channels of the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR)

George F. Hartig; James H. Crocker; Holland C. Ford

doi:10.1117/12.176804

1 June 1994 On-orbit alignment of the spectrograph channels of the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR)

George F. Hartig, James H. Crocker, Holland C. Ford

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2198, Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176804
Event: 1994 Symposium on Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation for the 21st Century, 1994, Kailua, Kona, HI, United States

Abstract

The corrective optics space telescope axial replacement (COSTAR), designed to restore the high image quality that was originally expected from the Hubble Space Telescope, was successfully installed in the observatory during the first HST servicing mission in December 1993. While verification testing in the lab has shown that the imaging performance of COSTAR is nearly ideal, realization of the expected high spatial resolution of the COSTAR-corrected images depends strongly on the ability to align the COSTAR mirrors with respect to the telescope and axial science instruments. We report on the methods used in the weeks following the servicing mission to optimize the HST-COSTAR performance for the Faint Object Spectrograph and Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph channels. The relatively low spatial resolution afforded by the spectrographs as well as defects in their imaging modes presented special challenges to rapid optimization of the COSTAR correction. Nevertheless, the alignment process quickly converged and has yielded images that are superior to the COSTAR specifications.

Citation Download Citation

George F. Hartig, James H. Crocker, and Holland C. Ford "On-orbit alignment of the spectrograph channels of the Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement (COSTAR)", Proc. SPIE 2198, Instrumentation in Astronomy VIII, (1 June 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176804

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available