Design and manufacturing considerations for 0.25-1.5 meter beryllium telescopes for current and future space missions

Mike Sweeney; Mark Warren; Joseph Ho; Jeff Calvert; Tom Vettese; Jeff Ruzan; Brady Rogers

doi:10.1117/12.2189196

2 September 2015 Design and manufacturing considerations for 0.25-1.5 meter beryllium telescopes for current and future space missions

Mike Sweeney, Mark Warren, Joseph Ho, Jeff Calvert, Tom Vettese, Jeff Ruzan, Brady Rogers

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9574, Material Technologies and Applications to Optics, Structures, Components, and Sub-Systems II; 957402 (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2189196
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Recently there has been resurging interest in beryllium telescopes ranging in aperture from 0.25-1.5 meter for various NASA space missions. The central theme for this discussion is axially symmetric, all beryllium telescope design forms that are part of advanced LIDAR altimetry systems used to measure the topography and relative density of surface and atmospheric features on the earth and on other planetary bodies. Similar NASA LIDAR missions have previously been sent to Earth’s orbit, the Moon, Mars, and are under consideration for other surveys within the solar system. Design considerations include achieving minimized mass simultaneous with demanding structural, thermal, and optical requirements on orbit after sustaining the rigors of space launch. Modern analysis tools and modeling techniques enable simulation of telescope wavefront errors resulting from environmental effects and the influences of bi-metallic bending from platings. Manufacturing considerations include progressive machining, diamond point turning, coordinate measurement machine profilometry, computerized grinding and polishing, brazing of complex beryllium structures, very thin electroless nickel plating, and other advanced manufacturing technologies imperative to successful visible–infrared optical performance. Recent design and manufacturing efforts on 0.60, 0.80, and 1.0 meter beryllium telescopes are profiled to illustrate the confluence of applicable design and manufacturing technologies.

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Mike Sweeney, Mark Warren, Joseph Ho, Jeff Calvert, Tom Vettese, Jeff Ruzan, and Brady Rogers "Design and manufacturing considerations for 0.25-1.5 meter beryllium telescopes for current and future space missions", Proc. SPIE 9574, Material Technologies and Applications to Optics, Structures, Components, and Sub-Systems II, 957402 (2 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2189196

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KEYWORDS

Beryllium

Telescopes

Mirrors

Space telescopes

Optics manufacturing

Polishing

Optical instrument design

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