The Origins Testbed: capturing the dynamics and control of future space-based telescopes

Gregory J. Mallory; Alvar Saenz-Otero; David W. Miller

doi:10.1117/1.602544

1 June 2000 The Origins Testbed: capturing the dynamics and control of future space-based telescopes

Gregory J. Mallory, Alvar Saenz-Otero, David W. Miller

Optical Engineering, Vol. 39, Issue 6, (June 2000). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.602544

We describe a laboratory test article developed to capture the dynamics and control problems anticipated for future space-based telescopes: the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) and the Next Generation Space Telescopes (NGST). We motivate the design of the Origins Testbed (OT) by identifying three operational events common to spacebased telescopes and requiring the OT to simulate them in a laboratory: large-angle slew, optical capture (alignment), and observation. The OT is the first spacecraft-like testbed to include nanometer phasing and a large-angle slew capability in the presence of spacecraftlike disturbances. The OT is discussed in detail, including the testbed’s dynamics and control sensors and actuators, with particular emphasis on the optical system. We present the necessary optics to capture the phasing of SIM and NGST using three interferometer channels. Pointing optics are detailed, with a description of an implemented spiral-based autoalignment algorithm. Initial slew control is discussed, and experimental results are presented. Future experiments performed on the OT will provide critical heritage for control techniques to be implemented on SIM and NGST.

Citation Download Citation

Gregory J. Mallory, Alvar Saenz-Otero, and David W. Miller "The Origins Testbed: capturing the dynamics and control of future space-based telescopes," Optical Engineering 39(6), (1 June 2000). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.602544

Published: 1 June 2000

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available