Pointing stability and image quality of the SOFIA Airborne Telescope during initial science missions

Ulrich Lampater; Paul Keas; Rick Brewster; Terry Herter; Juergen Wolf; Enrico Pfueller; Manuel Wiedemann; Stefan Teufel; Franziska Harms; Holger Jakob; Hans-Peter Roser

doi:10.1117/12.915762

10 November 2011 Pointing stability and image quality of the SOFIA Airborne Telescope during initial science missions

Ulrich Lampater, Paul Keas, Rick Brewster, Terry Herter, Juergen Wolf, Enrico Pfueller, Manuel Wiedemann, Stefan Teufel, Franziska Harms, Holger Jakob, Hans-Peter Roser

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 8336, Integrated Modeling of Complex Optomechanical Systems; 833608 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.915762
Event: Integrated Modeling of Complex Optomechanical Systems, 2011, Kiruna, Sweden

Abstract

The Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is an airborne observatory for astronomical observations at wavelengths ranging from 0.3-1600 µm. It consists of a telescope with an effective aperture of 2.5 m, which is mounted in a heavily modified Boeing 747SP. The aircraft features an open port cavity that gives the telescope an unobstructed view of the sky. Hence the optical system is subject to both aerodynamic loads from airflow entering the cavity, and to inertial loads introduced by motion of the airborne platform. A complex suspension assembly was designed to stabilize the telescope. Detailed end-to-end simulations were performed to estimate image stability based on the mechatronic design, the expected loads, and optical influence parameters. In December 2010 SOFIA entered its operational phase with a series of Early Science flights, which have relaxed image quality requirements compared to the full operations capability. At the same time, those flights are used to characterize image quality and image stability in order to validate models and to optimize systems. Optimization of systems is not based on analytical models, but on models derived from system identification measurements that are performed on the actual hardware both under controlled conditions and operational conditions. This paper discusses recent results from system identification measurements, improvements to image stability, and plans for the further enhancement of the system.

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Ulrich Lampater, Paul Keas, Rick Brewster, Terry Herter, Juergen Wolf, Enrico Pfueller, Manuel Wiedemann, Stefan Teufel, Franziska Harms, Holger Jakob, and Hans-Peter Roser "Pointing stability and image quality of the SOFIA Airborne Telescope during initial science missions", Proc. SPIE 8336, Integrated Modeling of Complex Optomechanical Systems, 833608 (10 November 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.915762

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