Innovative enclosure dome/observing aperture system design for the MROI Array Telescopes

A. Busatta; G. Marchiori; S. Mian; I. Payne; M. Pozzobon

doi:10.1117/12.858635

21 July 2010 Innovative enclosure dome/observing aperture system design for the MROI Array Telescopes

A. Busatta, G. Marchiori, S. Mian, I. Payne, M. Pozzobon

Proceedings Volume 7739, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation; 77391V (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858635
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The close-pack array of the MROI necessitated an original design for the Unit Telescope Enclosure (UTE) at Magdalena Ridge Observatory. The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) is a project which comprises an array of up to ten (10) 1.4m diameter mirror telescopes arranged in a "Y" configuration. Each of these telescopes will be housed inside a Unit Telescope Enclosure (UTE) which are relocatable onto any of 28 stations. The most compact configuration includes all ten telescopes, several of which are at a relative distance of less than 8m center to center from each other. Since the minimum angle of the field of regard is 30° with respect to the horizon, it is difficult to prevent optical blockage caused by adjacent UTEs in this compact array. This paper presents the design constraints inherent in meeting the requirement for the close-pack array. An innovative design enclosure was created which incorporates an unique dome/observing aperture system. The description of this system focuses on how the field of regard requirement led to an unique and highly innovative concept that had to be able to operate in the harsh environmental conditions encountered at an altitude of 10,460ft (3,188m). Finally, we describe the wide use of composites materials and structures (e.g. glass/carbon fibres, sandwich panels etc.) on the aperture system which represents the only way to guarantee adequate thermal and environmental protection, compactness, structural stability and limited power consumption due to reduced mass.

Citation Download Citation

A. Busatta, G. Marchiori, S. Mian, I. Payne, and M. Pozzobon "Innovative enclosure dome/observing aperture system design for the MROI Array Telescopes", Proc. SPIE 7739, Modern Technologies in Space- and Ground-based Telescopes and Instrumentation, 77391V (21 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.858635

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