Backup secondary mirror and mechanism for SOFIA

Edwin F. Erickson; Michael A. Honaker; Chad A. Brivkalns; Theodore M. Brown; Nans Kunz; Werner Preuss; Michael R. Haas

doi:10.1117/12.555478

28 September 2004 Backup secondary mirror and mechanism for SOFIA

Edwin F. Erickson, Michael A. Honaker, Chad A. Brivkalns, Theodore M. Brown, Nans Kunz, Werner Preuss, Michael R. Haas

Proceedings Volume 5489, Ground-based Telescopes; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.555478
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

The SOFIA telescope has a silicon carbide secondary mirror and a six degree-of-freedom secondary mirror mechanism. Each of these high-technology items represents a single-point failure mode, because both are essential for operation of the observatory, and neither has a spare. Reduced-performance, relatively inexpensive “backup” hardware can enable a large fraction of the planned SOFIA science observations, and so can help to assure a highly reliable flight program. Accordingly, we have developed an aluminum secondary mirror and derived design requirements for a backup secondary mirror mechanism that will meet minimum performance needs.

Citation Download Citation

Edwin F. Erickson, Michael A. Honaker, Chad A. Brivkalns, Theodore M. Brown, Nans Kunz, Werner Preuss, and Michael R. Haas "Backup secondary mirror and mechanism for SOFIA", Proc. SPIE 5489, Ground-based Telescopes, (28 September 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.555478

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