Pointing control system of SOFIA

Karl Wandner; Hans Juergen Kaercher

doi:10.1117/12.389113

20 June 2000 Pointing control system of SOFIA

Karl Wandner, Hans Juergen Kaercher

Proceedings Volume 4014, Airborne Telescope Systems; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.389113
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

The challenging pointing stability requirement for the SOFIA telescope requires the application of sophisticated control concepts and high performance sensors and actuators. The pointing control concept involves a tracking system with optical cameras, a three-axis inertial stabilization loop, and the compensation of telescope deflections taking the secondary mirror control system into account. Special algorithms and techniques based on finite element calculations are applied for the online identification of telescope deflections and the design of the position control loop algorithm. New developments have been performed with regard to low noise fiber optic gyroscopes and spherical torquers for three degrees of freedom. The paper explains the control concept of the SOFIA telescope.

Citation Download Citation

Karl Wandner and Hans Juergen Kaercher "Pointing control system of SOFIA", Proc. SPIE 4014, Airborne Telescope Systems, (20 June 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.389113

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