Key enabling technologies for the next generation of space telescopes

Abstract

The next generation of large space telescopes, including ATLAST, SAFIR, IXO and Generation-X will require the development of key technologies to enable their development at an affordable cost. This includes technologies for the rapid, low cost fabrication of ultra-light weight primary mirror segments, active figure control of primary mirror segments, high speed wavefront sensing and control, highly-packageable and scalable deployment techniques, and active vibration and thermal control for light weight structural elements to supply good pointing stability. In this paper we discuss the current state-of-the-art for these technologies and roadmaps for future development in these areas.

Modeling and analysis of a flywheel microvibration isolation system for spacecrafts

“…However, the microvibrations induced by mechanical moving devices onboard spacecrafts, such as flywheels, solar array drive motors and cryo-coolers could undermine the stability of the bus seriously, causing deleterious effects on the pointing performance (Brugarolas et al, 2010;Oh et al, 2013). Therefore, more and more attentions have been turned to dealing with the microvibration problems of the spacecrafts in recent years (Lillie et al, 2010;Tan et al, 2005).…”

Modeling and analysis of a viscoelastic micro-vibration isolation and mitigation platform for spacecraft

“…Micro-vibrations can seriously degrade the pointing precision and stability of the instruments and high-sensitivity sensors on spacecraft (Dekens and Neat, 2000; Wacker et al., 2005; Shimizu et al., 2008). Hence, attenuating micro-vibration becomes a major technical challenge for the development of space technology (Lillie et al., 2010).…”