Technology maturation of key component-level technologies for ultra-stable optical systems

Laura E. Coyle; J. Scott Knight; Laurent Pueyo; Matthew East; Robert Hellekson; Marcel Bluth; Sang Park; Brian Hicks; Benjamin Cromey; Ananya Sahoo; Sean Brennan; Todd Lawton; Michael Eisenhower; James R. Tucker; Jonathan Arenberg

doi:10.1117/12.2594643

24 August 2021 Technology maturation of key component-level technologies for ultra-stable optical systems

Laura E. Coyle, J. Scott Knight, Laurent Pueyo, Matthew East, Robert Hellekson, Marcel Bluth, Sang Park, Brian Hicks, Benjamin Cromey, Ananya Sahoo, Sean Brennan, Todd Lawton, Michael Eisenhower, James R. Tucker, Jonathan Arenberg

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 11820, Astronomical Optics: Design, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III; 118200C (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594643
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2021, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

To achieve the ambitious science goal of performing direct imaging of earth-like exoplanets with a high contrast coronagraph, future space-based astronomical telescopes will require wavefront stability several orders of magnitude beyond state-of-the-art. The Ultra-Stable Large Telescope Research and Analysis – Technology Maturation (ULTRA-TM) program is maturing key component-level technologies for this new regime of “ultra-stable optical systems” through hardware testbeds that demonstrate component performance in the desired picometer regime and with path-to-flight properties. This paper describes the initial results from these testbeds – which address key capabilities across the ultrastable architecture and include active components like segment edge sensors, actuators and thermal sensing and control hardware, as well as passive components like low distortion mirror mounts and stable composites for structures. These promising experimental results are the first steps in our team’s technical maturation plan to credibly enable a large, ultrastable telescope in space. The resulting component, sub-system and system roadmaps are meant to support planning for technology development efforts for future NASA missions.

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Laura E. Coyle, J. Scott Knight, Laurent Pueyo, Matthew East, Robert Hellekson, Marcel Bluth, Sang Park, Brian Hicks, Benjamin Cromey, Ananya Sahoo, Sean Brennan, Todd Lawton, Michael Eisenhower, James R. Tucker, and Jonathan Arenberg "Technology maturation of key component-level technologies for ultra-stable optical systems", Proc. SPIE 11820, Astronomical Optics: Design, Manufacture, and Test of Space and Ground Systems III, 118200C (24 August 2021); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2594643

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