Dimensionally stable materials for space interferometers

Benjamin P. Dolgin

doi:10.1117/12.155744

10 September 1993 Dimensionally stable materials for space interferometers

Benjamin P. Dolgin

Proceedings Volume 1947, Spaceborne Interferometry; (1993) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.155744
Event: Optical Engineering and Photonics in Aerospace Sensing, 1993, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Future NASA missions in astrophysics, Earth observation, and solar system exploration that require optical communication, optical and infrared imaging, or high precision astrometric measurements impose very stringent demands for the dimensional stability of precision structures and science instrument components. The objective of this paper is to identify the major mechanisms that influence the dimensional behavior of common optomechanical materials, to identify the mechanisms that are important for the proposed missions with critical dimensional stability requirements, and to compare the mission requirements with state-of-the- art material and measurement technologies. This paper discusses the tradeoffs of passive vs. active means of achieving the dimensional stability requirements. The reduction of power consumption and mass, the reliability improvements as a function of the dimensional stability of the structural materials for a typical interferometer are calculated.

Citation Download Citation

Benjamin P. Dolgin "Dimensionally stable materials for space interferometers", Proc. SPIE 1947, Spaceborne Interferometry, (10 September 1993); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.155744

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