Steady-state analysis of the multi-tethered aerostat platform for the Large Adaptive Reflector telescope

Joeleff T. Fitzsimmons; Bruce Veidt; Peter E. Dewdney

doi:10.1117/12.390441

3 July 2000 Steady-state analysis of the multi-tethered aerostat platform for the Large Adaptive Reflector telescope

Joeleff T. Fitzsimmons, Bruce Veidt, Peter E. Dewdney

Proceedings Volume 4015, Radio Telescopes; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.390441
Event: Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation, 2000, Munich, Germany

Abstract

The Large Adaptive Reflector (LAR), currently being developed at the National Research Council Canada, is a low-cost, large- aperture, wide-band, cm-wave radio telescope designed for implementation in the Square Kilometer Array (SKA). The LAR consists of a 200 m diameter, actuated-surface, parabolic reflector with a feed located at a 500 m focal length. Since the feed must be positioned on a 500 m hemisphere centered about the reflector and between a zenith angle of 0 degree(s) to 60 degree(s), an innovative method for feed positioning is required. This feed positioning will be achieved using a high- tension structure consisting of a 4100 m³ helium aerostat supporting an array of tethers. The length of each tether can be controlled through the use of winches, resulting in accurate control of the feed position. The feasibility of the tethered aerostat feed-positioning system is of critical importance to the success of the LAR. Extensive steady-state analyses of the multi-tethered aerostat have been completed and provide strong evidence that this feed-positioning system will operate reliably in moderate weather conditions (10 m/s constant wind velocity with 2.5 m/s wind gusts). The framework of these analyses and the corresponding results will be presented.

Citation Download Citation

Joeleff T. Fitzsimmons, Bruce Veidt, and Peter E. Dewdney "Steady-state analysis of the multi-tethered aerostat platform for the Large Adaptive Reflector telescope", Proc. SPIE 4015, Radio Telescopes, (3 July 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.390441

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