Kilometer scale telescope collector deployable in a shuttle payload

Thomas D. Ditto

doi:10.1117/12.606728

9 December 2004 Kilometer scale telescope collector deployable in a shuttle payload

Thomas D. Ditto

Proceedings Volume 5578, Photonics North 2004: Photonic Applications in Astronomy, Biomedicine, Imaging, Materials Processing, and Education; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.606728
Event: Photonics North, 2004, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

We propose a space telescope that has a diffraction grating as its primary objective element. A membrane grating in the shape of a ribbon could enjoy aperture length above a kilometer. This novel configuration would be particularly useful for very high resolution spectrographic astronomy as required in Doppler shift searches for extra-solar planets due to its very wide aperture in the one dimension used for dispersion and its unprecedented spectral resolving power. Rolls can be stowed in the payload bay for Shuttle delivery into orbit, then unfurled and kept flat using inertial guidance from gyroscopes and centrifugal forces. The large primary collector would not require formation flying since the membrane would provide a mechanical tether. We suggest experiments to establish feasibility of the deployment. We also suggest studies for the tensile mechanics and environmental stresses on the device. Our analysis investigates the parameters of surface flatness, membrane thickness, metallic coating conductivity, grating period, groove blaze and depth. We analyze options for fabrication such as roll embossing of multiple-kilometer length membrane substrates. We also consider an evanescent mode grating in a transmission medium which can be formed using methods now commonplace in telecommunication fiber optics.

Citation Download Citation

Thomas D. Ditto "Kilometer scale telescope collector deployable in a shuttle payload", Proc. SPIE 5578, Photonics North 2004: Photonic Applications in Astronomy, Biomedicine, Imaging, Materials Processing, and Education, (9 December 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.606728

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