Paper
26 September 2013 MEMS deformable mirror CubeSat testbed
Kerri L. Cahoy, Anne D. Marinan, Benjamin Novak, Caitlin Kerr, Tam Nguyen, Matthew Webber, Grant Falkenburg, Andrew Barg, Kristen Berry, Ashley Carlton, Ruslan Belikov, Eduardo A. Bendek
Author Affiliations +
Abstract
To meet the high contrast requirement of 1 × 10−10to image an Earth-like planet around a Sun-like star, space telescopes equipped with coronagraphs require wavefront control systems. Deformable mirrors are a key element of these systems that correct for optical imperfections, thermal distortions, and diffraction that would otherwise corrupt the wavefront and ruin the contrast. However, high-actuator-count MEMS deformable mirrors have yet to fly in space long enough to characterize their on-orbit performance and reduce risk by developing and operating their supporting systems. The goal of the MEMS Deformable Mirror CubeSat Testbed is to develop a CubeSat-scale demonstration of MEMS deformable mirror and wavefront sensing technology. In this paper, we consider two approaches for a MEMS deformable mirror technology demonstration payload that will fit within the mass, power, and volume constraints of a CubeSat: 1) a Michelson interferometer and 2) a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor. We clarify the constraints on the payload based on the resources required for supporting CubeSat subsystems drawn from subsystems that we have developed for a different CubeSat flight project. We discuss results from payload lab prototypes and their utility in defining mission requirements.
© (2013) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Kerri L. Cahoy, Anne D. Marinan, Benjamin Novak, Caitlin Kerr, Tam Nguyen, Matthew Webber, Grant Falkenburg, Andrew Barg, Kristen Berry, Ashley Carlton, Ruslan Belikov, and Eduardo A. Bendek "MEMS deformable mirror CubeSat testbed", Proc. SPIE 8864, Techniques and Instrumentation for Detection of Exoplanets VI, 88640U (26 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2024684
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KEYWORDS
Deformable mirrors

Mirrors

Sensors

Wavefront sensors

Stars

Wavefronts

Microelectromechanical systems

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