Semi-kinematic mount of the FIREBALL large optics

C. Rossin; R. Grange; B. Milliard; L. Martin; G. Moreaux; P. Blanchard; J.-M. Deharveng; J. Evrard; C. Martin; R. McLean; D. Schiminovich

doi:10.1117/12.788917

23 July 2008 Semi-kinematic mount of the FIREBALL large optics

C. Rossin, R. Grange, B. Milliard, L. Martin, G. Moreaux, P. Blanchard, J.-M. Deharveng, J. Evrard, C. Martin, R. McLean, D. Schiminovich

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation; 70181Q (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788917
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2008, Marseille, France

Abstract

In the context of the NASA CNES FIREBALL balloon borne experiment, we present the design of a semi-kinematic mount to hold the 1 meter class mirrors of this mission. To maintain these large optics in a reasonable mass and price budgets we choose thin ULE mirrors with a thickness over diameter ratio of 1/16. Such thin mirrors require a multi support mount to reduce self weight deflection. Classical multi support mount used for ground based telescope would not survive the level of shock observed in a balloon experiment either at parachute opening or landing. To firmly maintain these mirrors in several points without noticeably deforming them we investigated the design of a two stages semi-kinematic mount composed of 24 monopods. We present the detailed design of this innovative mirror mount, the finite element modeling with the deduced optical wavefront deformation. During the FIREBALL integration and flight campaign in July 2007 at CSBF, we confirmed the validity of the mechanical concept by obtaining an image quality well within the required specifications. Variants of this approach are potentially applicable to large thin mirrors on ground-based observatories.

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C. Rossin, R. Grange, B. Milliard, L. Martin, G. Moreaux, P. Blanchard, J.-M. Deharveng, J. Evrard, C. Martin, R. McLean, and D. Schiminovich "Semi-kinematic mount of the FIREBALL large optics", Proc. SPIE 7018, Advanced Optical and Mechanical Technologies in Telescopes and Instrumentation, 70181Q (23 July 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.788917

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