Orbiting stellar interferometer

Michael Shao; Donna M. Wolff

doi:10.1117/12.212995

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26 June 1995 Orbiting stellar interferometer

Michael Shao, Donna M. Wolff

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Proceedings Volume 2477, Spaceborne Interferometry II; (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.212995
Event: SPIE's 1995 Symposium on OE/Aerospace Sensing and Dual Use Photonics, 1995, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

The Orbiting Stellar Interferometer (OSI) is a concept for a first-generation space interferometer with astrometric and imaging capabilities and its responsive to the recommendations of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Survey Committee for an astrometric interferometry mission. OSI is a triple Michelson interferometer with articulating siderostats and optical delay lines. The design uses a 7 m maximum baseline and aperture diameters of 33 cm; the targeted astrometric performance is a wide-field accuracy of 5 (mu) as for 20-mag objects. The instrument would also be capable of synthesis imaging with a resolution of 10 mas. Laser metrology is used to relax structural requirements thereby reducing cost. The currently envisaged flight system fits into an Atlas II shroud, for insertion into a 900 km sun- synchronous orbit.

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Michael Shao and Donna M. Wolff "Orbiting stellar interferometer", Proc. SPIE 2477, Spaceborne Interferometry II, (26 June 1995); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.212995

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