GEO light imaging national testbed (GLINT) heliostat design and testing status

Marcia Ann Thornton; Jerry R. Oldenettel; Dane William Hult; Katrina Koski; Tracy Depue; Edward Louis Cuellar; Jim Balfour; Morey Roof; Fred W. Yarger; Greg Newlin; Lee Ramzel; Peter Buchanan; Fesseha G. Mariam; Lee Scotese

doi:10.1117/12.453217

22 January 2002 GEO light imaging national testbed (GLINT) heliostat design and testing status

Marcia Ann Thornton, Jerry R. Oldenettel, Dane William Hult, Katrina Koski, Tracy Depue, Edward Louis Cuellar, Jim Balfour, Morey Roof, Fred W. Yarger, Greg Newlin, Lee Ramzel, Peter Buchanan, Fesseha G. Mariam, Lee Scotese

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 4489, Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.453217
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2001, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The GEO Light Imaging National Testbed (GLINT) will use three laser beams producing simultaneous interference fringes to illuminate satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO). The reflected returns will be recorded using a large 4,000 m² 'light bucket' receiver. This imaging methodology is termed Fourier Telescopy. A major component of the 'light bucket' will be an array of 40 - 80 heliostats. Each heliostat will have a mirrored surface area of 100 m² mounted on a rigid truss structure which is supported by an A-frame. The truss structure attaches to the torque tube elevation drive and the A-frame structure rests on an azimuth ring that could provide nearly full coverage of the sky. The heliostat is designed to operate in 15 mph winds with jitter of less than 500 microradians peak-to- peak. One objective of the design was to minimize receiver cost to the maximum extent possible while maintaining GLINT system performance specifications. The mechanical structure weights approximately seven tons and is a simple fabricated steel framework. A prototype heliostat has been assembled at Stallion Range Center, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico and is being tested under a variety of weather and operational conditions. The preliminary results of that testing will be presented as well as some finite element model analyses that were performed to predict the performance of the structure.

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Marcia Ann Thornton, Jerry R. Oldenettel, Dane William Hult, Katrina Koski, Tracy Depue, Edward Louis Cuellar, Jim Balfour, Morey Roof, Fred W. Yarger, Greg Newlin, Lee Ramzel, Peter Buchanan, Fesseha G. Mariam, and Lee Scotese "GEO light imaging national testbed (GLINT) heliostat design and testing status", Proc. SPIE 4489, Free-Space Laser Communication and Laser Imaging, (22 January 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.453217

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