Future ground-based telescopes design requirements

Michael Ramsay; Robert Sobek; Blaise Canzian; Jeffrey Maloney

doi:10.1117/12.857607

28 July 2010 Future ground-based telescopes design requirements

Michael Ramsay, Robert Sobek, Blaise Canzian, Jeffrey Maloney

Proceedings Volume 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III; 77330Y (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857607
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Current trends in astronomical research necessitate a large number of small to medium sized telescopes be commissioned to support and augment the science goals of larger ground-based observatories and space observatories. The science mission requirements for these telescopes vary widely, yet the critical design requirements for the telescopes are largely consistent across many missions. This paper clarifies the critical functional and performance parameters of a gimbaled telescope system as dictated by three significant classes of telescope missions: laser transmission, wide area surveys and pointed surveys. Within these classifications several specific example science missions are considered from which specific telescope functional requirements are derived. Detailed telescope performance requirements are then evaluated from a systems engineering perspective, highlighting typical performance that may be expected from a modern telescope. Additional commentary is provided on the probable feasibility of upgrading older facilities in contrast to commissioning new telescopes systems. Based on the predictions of the NSF / NOAO sponsored ReSTAR report, it is assumed that the demand for highobservation- volume pointed surveys will increase rapidly within the next ten years. A case is made for the high science value of high gimbal slew rates on the basis of effective throughput in pointed survey applications.

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Michael Ramsay, Robert Sobek, Blaise Canzian, and Jeffrey Maloney "Future ground-based telescopes design requirements", Proc. SPIE 7733, Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes III, 77330Y (28 July 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.857607

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KEYWORDS

Telescopes

Space telescopes

Optical instrument design

Adaptive optics

Observatories

Picosecond phenomena

Stars

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