Image guider subsystem analysis for the GHAPS project

Michael Lewis; Jeffrey Juergens; Eliot Aretskin-Hariton; Robert Woodruff

doi:10.1117/12.2313994

6 July 2018 Image guider subsystem analysis for the GHAPS project

Michael Lewis, Jeffrey Juergens, Eliot Aretskin-Hariton, Robert Woodruff

Proceedings Volume 10702, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII; 107025D (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313994
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

The Gondola for High-Altitude Planetary Science (GHAPS) project is a balloon-borne astronomical observatory designed operate in the UV, Visible, and near-mid IR spectral region. The GHAPS Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) is designed around a one meter aperture narrow field-of-view telescope with near-diffractionlimited performance. GHAPS will utilize Wallops Arc-Second Pointing System (WASP) for pointing the OTA with an accuracy of 1 arc second or better. WASP relies heavily on a self-contained star tracker assembly to determine the OTA line of sight. Preliminary structural analysis indicates that potential misalignments could be present between the OTA line of sight and the star tracker FOV center during the expected flight conditions that could compromise GHAPS pointing accuracy. In response the GHAPS project undertook a trade study to resolve the following issues: (1) estimate the worst case long-term (or bias) pointing misalignments for the GHAPS opto-mechanical configuration, (2) examine the need for additional hardware to correct pointing errors, and (3) determine the best hardware and software implementation to do so. Quantitative comparisons of performance and qualitative estimates of other factors such as mass, volume, power consumption, and cost are combined into an overall assessment of potential solutions. Results are discussed and a recommended implementation is given that is optimized to best achieve pointing performance goals, while minimizing impact to the design, cost, and resources of the GHAPS project.

Citation Download Citation

Michael Lewis, Jeffrey Juergens, Eliot Aretskin-Hariton, and Robert Woodruff "Image guider subsystem analysis for the GHAPS project", Proc. SPIE 10702, Ground-based and Airborne Instrumentation for Astronomy VII, 107025D (6 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313994

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