The wide field infrared survey telescope (WFIRST) observatory: design formulation (phase-A) overview (Conference Presentation)

Thomas M. Casey; Nerses V Armani; Wes L Alexander; Lisa M Bartusek; Carl A Blaurock; David F Braun; Alexander J Carra; David A Content; Yves Conturie; Christine E Cottingham; Richard T Demers; Michael J Dipirro; Robert T Effinger; Robert M Egerman; Frank Forkl; Guangjun Gao; John D Gygax; John G Hagopian; Timothy Hahm; John P Hawk; Gurnie C Hobbs; Clifton E Jackson; Alden S Jurling; Brian D Kern; Jeffrey W Kruk; Xiaoyi Li; Kuo-chia Liu; Catherine T Marx; Marzouk Marzouk; Carson S McDonald; Seke G Godo; Mark E Melton; James Mondello; M. Charley Noecker; Bert A Pasquale; Hume L Peabody; Ilya Y Poberezhskiy; Cory A Powell; Giulio G Rosanova; John A Ruffa; Jeffrey S Smith; Hong Tang; Christopher S Tolman; Arthur L Whipple; Timothy J Wilson; Melissa F Vess; Perry Voyer

doi:10.1117/12.2313748

10 July 2018 The wide field infrared survey telescope (WFIRST) observatory: design formulation (phase-A) overview (Conference Presentation)

Thomas M. Casey, Nerses V Armani, Wes L Alexander, Lisa M Bartusek, Carl A Blaurock, David F Braun, Alexander J Carra, David A Content, Yves Conturie, Christine E Cottingham, Richard T Demers, Michael J Dipirro, Robert T Effinger, Robert M Egerman, Frank Forkl, Guangjun Gao, John D Gygax, John G Hagopian, Timothy Hahm, John P Hawk, Gurnie C Hobbs, Clifton E Jackson, Alden S Jurling, Brian D Kern, Jeffrey W Kruk, Xiaoyi Li, Kuo-chia Liu, Catherine T Marx, Marzouk Marzouk, Carson S McDonald, Seke G Godo, Mark E Melton, James Mondello, M. Charley Noecker, Bert A Pasquale, Hume L Peabody, Ilya Y Poberezhskiy, Cory A Powell, Giulio G Rosanova, John A Ruffa, Jeffrey S Smith, Hong Tang, Christopher S Tolman, Arthur L Whipple, Timothy J Wilson, Melissa F Vess, Perry Voyer

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave; 106982C (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313748
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) is being designed to deliver unprecedented capability in dark energy and exoplanet science, and to host a technology demonstration coronagraph for exoplanet imaging and spectroscopy. The observatory design has matured since 2013 [“WFIRST 2.4m Mission Study”, D. Content, SPIE Proc Vol 8860, 2013] and we present a comprehensive description of the WFIRST observatory configuration as refined during formulation phase (AKA the phase-A study). The WFIRST observatory is based on an existing, repurposed 2.4m space telescope coupled with a 288 megapixel near-infrared (0.6 to 2 microns) HgCdTe focal plane array with multiple imaging and spectrographic modes. Together they deliver a 0.28 square degree field of view, which is approximately 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope, and a sensitivity that enables rapid science surveys. In addition, the technology demonstration coronagraph will prove the feasibility of new techniques for exoplanet discovery, imaging, and spectral analysis. A composite truss structure meters both instruments to the telescope assembly, and the instruments and the spacecraft are on-orbit serviceable. We present the current design and summarize key Phase-A trade studies and configuration changes that improved interfaces, improved testability, and reduced technical risk. We provide an overview of our Integrated Modeling results, performed at an unprecedented level for a phase-A study, to illustrate performance margins with respect to static wavefront error, jitter, and thermal drift. Finally, we summarize the results of technology development and peer reviews, demonstrating our progress towards a low-risk flight development and a launch in the middle of the next decade.

Conference Presentation

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Thomas M. Casey, Nerses V Armani, Wes L Alexander, Lisa M Bartusek, Carl A Blaurock, David F Braun, Alexander J Carra, David A Content, Yves Conturie, Christine E Cottingham, Richard T Demers, Michael J Dipirro, Robert T Effinger, Robert M Egerman, Frank Forkl, Guangjun Gao, John D Gygax, John G Hagopian, Timothy Hahm, John P Hawk, Gurnie C Hobbs, Clifton E Jackson, Alden S Jurling, Brian D Kern, Jeffrey W Kruk, Xiaoyi Li, Kuo-chia Liu, Catherine T Marx, Marzouk Marzouk, Carson S McDonald, Seke G Godo, Mark E Melton, James Mondello, M. Charley Noecker, Bert A Pasquale, Hume L Peabody, Ilya Y Poberezhskiy, Cory A Powell, Giulio G Rosanova, John A Ruffa, Jeffrey S Smith, Hong Tang, Christopher S Tolman, Arthur L Whipple, Timothy J Wilson, Melissa F Vess, and Perry Voyer "The wide field infrared survey telescope (WFIRST) observatory: design formulation (phase-A) overview (Conference Presentation)", Proc. SPIE 10698, Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave, 106982C (10 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313748

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KEYWORDS

Infrared telescopes

Observatories

Space telescopes

Telescopes

Infrared radiation

Optical instrument design

Exoplanets

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