Spaceborne optical coronagraph requirements including exo-solar planet and star testbed simulation

Stephen E. Kendrick; Jennifer Turner-Valle; Dennis Ebbets; Robert Bates

doi:10.1117/12.557847

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1 November 2004 Spaceborne optical coronagraph requirements including exo-solar planet and star testbed simulation

Stephen E. Kendrick, Jennifer Turner-Valle, Dennis Ebbets, Robert Bates

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Proceedings Volume 5555, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VIII; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.557847
Event: Optical Science and Technology, the SPIE 49th Annual Meeting, 2004, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

The optical telescope for a spaceborne coronagraph to detect terrestrial to Jovian-sized planets has unusually stringent phase and amplitude requirements - far exceeding a "conventional" telescope like Hubble or the James Webb Space Telescope. The key engineering requirements will be summarized based on probable mission science objectives and an engineering solution with a monolithic primary mirror on the order of 6 meters by 4 meters. We will also present an optical design for a sub-scale coronagraphic simulator as a logical and essential step in examining the system sensitivities. Testbed simulations will include F, G, and K stars and companion planets ranging in size from earth-like up to Jovian-like.

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Stephen E. Kendrick, Jennifer Turner-Valle, Dennis Ebbets, and Robert Bates "Spaceborne optical coronagraph requirements including exo-solar planet and star testbed simulation", Proc. SPIE 5555, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology VIII, (1 November 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.557847

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