Mr. Joseph B. Houston Profile

Joseph B. Houston

Past President at Houston Research Associates

SPIE Involvement:

Conference Program Committee | Author

Proceedings Article | 17 October 2013 Open Access

Introduction to the Stratos Project (Presentation Video)

Joseph Houston

Proceedings Volume 8842, 88420B (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2030382

KEYWORDS: Video, Optical imaging, Imaging systems, Cameras, Optical design, Current controlled current source

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Proceedings Article | 20 August 2010 Paper

Perceptual image quality and telescope performance ranking

Joshua Lentz, James Harvey, Kenneth Marshall, Joseph Salg, Joseph Houston

Proceedings Volume 7786, 77860D (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862833

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Image quality, Space telescopes, Modulation transfer functions, Targeting Task Performance metric, Contrast transfer function, Device simulation, Interferometry, Diffraction, Image analysis

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Proceedings Article | 18 August 2005 Paper

Performance modeling of launch vehicle imaging telescopes

James Harvey, Andrey Krywonos, Joseph Houston

Proceedings Volume 5867, 58670G (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.626031

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Space telescopes, Image quality, Modulation, Imaging systems, Cameras, Monochromatic aberrations, Optical transfer functions, Performance modeling, Diffraction

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Proceedings Article | 30 September 2004 Paper

A user’s guide of optical mounts and alignment fixtures: example from a Mersenne reflecting afocal Gregory form telescope

Leigh Ryder, Joe Houston, Rich Bruner

Proceedings Volume 5528, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.560511

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Telescopes, Optical alignment, Space telescopes, Tolerancing, Reflector telescopes, Interferometers, Mirror mounts, Optical instrument design, Photomasks

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Proceedings Article | 9 September 2002 Paper

Telescope in a bottle: a novel approach to upgrading a 32-in.-aperture classical Cassegrainian telescope for range instrumentation with IR sensors

Joseph Houston

Proceedings Volume 4771, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.482155

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Optical instrument design, Optical design, Mirrors, Infrared sensors, Infrared telescopes, Infrared radiation, Optical alignment, Optical components, Infrared cameras

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The title for this paper derives from the method selected for upgrading an older telescope which needed to meet current range instrumentation requirements in the infrared portion of the optical spectrum. A major constraint imposed on the project at its outset was the need to keep the older telescope tube, tracking mount and mobile platform at its home base in Florida. In contrast to the traditional way of building telescopes by first designing the optical system and then designing the housing and mount, this upgrade began with fitting a new structure within the confines of the existing housing while increasing the usable aperture from a 29.5 inch diameter Classical Cassegrainian design to a 32 inch aperture system. This new structure evolved from an improved design approach including the use of low thermal coefficient of expansion materials, special baffles and modern alignment techniques. The tube which was to serve as the bottle, was stripped of its optical components while a completely new internal structure was fabricated independently at a facility in California. The redesign and fabrication process began with a search for the original optical design data and a shopping list of parts to be either modified or redesigned to fit the existing light path through a donut ring which incorporates the telescope's trunnion axis, to a second folding mirror thus enabling an infrared camera to be focused along an overhead track parallel to the telescope's optical axis. All of the original optics were reassembled and potted into new mounts. The secondary mirror was placed into a large ball-knuckle assembly which insured rapid and precise alignment. During the process of building the independent structure, an installation kit or erector set was created. This erector set included special tooling for attaching a large headring, all four metering rods, baffles and adapters as well as the primary mirror retaining ring, inside the original tube. All hardware was shipped to the field site in Florida where final assembly took place using only heavy lifting equipment and a minimum of inexpensive alignment devices.

Proceedings Article | 28 September 1999 Paper

Dual telescope system for all seasons: an all-reflecting UV-to-LWIR multifocal length telescope combination for advanced range instrumentation

Joseph Houston, Delmar Haddock

Proceedings Volume 3786, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.363805

KEYWORDS: Telescopes, Space telescopes, Mirrors, Optical instrument design, Aluminum, Optical design, Ultraviolet radiation, Instrument modeling, Optical alignment, Long wavelength infrared

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