An interferometer for high-resolution optical surveillance from geostationary orbit

An interferometer for high-resolution optical surveillance from geostationary orbit - space system study

“…L.Bonino (1) , F.Bresciani (1) , G.Piasini (1) , C. Flebus (2) , J.H. Lecat (3) , S. Roose (3) , M.Pisani (4) , A. Cabral (5) , J. Rebordão (5) , C. Proença (5) , J. Costal (6) , P.U.…”

“…Lecat (3) , S. Roose (3) , M.Pisani (4) , A. Cabral (5) , J. Rebordão (5) , C. Proença (5) , J. Costal (6) , P.U. Lima (6) , F.Musso (7) (1) …”

“…The size of the other mirrors has been established by the optical design. A mirror breadboarding activity has proven that the state-of-the-art technology allows us to satisfy the requirements of mirror mass and stiffness [1]. Fig.2 for the field angles (0°, 0°), (0.017°, 0°), (0.025°, 0°), one field for each row.…”

“…The instrument design has been started defyning the number, size and relative position of the sub-apertures of the GEO interferometer comparing the performance of many different configurations; the most favourable interferometer concept has been chosen, the choice being between Fizeau interferometer and Michelson with Fizeau recombination interferometer; the trade-off ended with the selection of the latter one [1]. As the Michelson interferometer is composed by one external and one internal circular array of subtelescopes lying on two different planes, two distinct optical paths are identified.…”

“…It is an in-depth description of a part of the activities described in [1]. The instrument design, both optical and mechanical, is described; tradeoffs have been done for different restoration methods, based on an image generated using calculated point spread functions (PSF's) for the complete FOV.…”