Mr. Charles W. Micka Profile

Charles W. Micka

Principal Optical Engineer at Collins Aerospace

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (2)

This will count as one of your downloads.

You will have access to both the presentation and article (if available).

DOWNLOAD NOW

This content is available for download via your institution's subscription. To access this item, please sign in to your personal account.

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Keep me signed in

No SPIE account? Create an account

Proceedings Article | 29 August 2022 Poster + Paper

Wide field of view optical assemblies for severe environments in space

Ryan S. Bronson, Charles W. Micka, Donna Groth, Jeffrey Grayczyk, Ryan Kaufman, John Fitzpatrick

Proceedings Volume 12188, 121882N (2022) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2629447

KEYWORDS: Cryogenics, Optical fabrication, Modulation transfer functions, Glasses, Temperature metrology, Inspection, Adhesives, Optical components, Metals, Image quality

Read Abstract +

Wide field-of-view (WFOV) lenses covering a full field of view of <120° have been designed and analyzed for spaceborne applications for use in severe environments. The optical designs have been passively athermalized and achromatized over the visible waveband for use during operating conditions and the opto-mechanical designs have been ruggedized for survivability in severe environmental conditions with random vibration levels exceeding 2000 Grms and cryogenic temperature conditions reaching -175°C. To characterize the performance and survivability of the lens assembly for such environments, image quality and random vibration testing was performed on representative optical assemblies, with previous flight experience, before and after exposure to cryogenic liquid nitrogen temperatures. The dynamic test environment consists of low-level random vibration testing in each of the three orthogonal axes (X, Y & Z) and the image quality testing performed includes resolution (MTF), distortion, and effective focal (EFL). Finite element analysis (FEA) was performed to verify survivability to full random vibration spectrums and shock levels; external testing was performed with flight hardware and results were validated. High correlation of characterization measurements before and after cryogenic exposure indicate the optical assemblies' ability to withstand severe temperature environments without any impact to functionality or performance. This document provides an overview of the optical and opto-mechanical lens designs for severe space environments, a comprehensive look into component material characteristics over temperature for various space-grade adhesives used to mechanically retain lens elements, and detailed explanations of the cryogenic test methodology using a custom laboratory test setup to characterize the performance and survivability of lens assemblies and their various components.

Proceedings Article | 24 August 2021 Poster + Paper

Quantifying passive athermalization performance of high-resolution spaceborne optical assemblies

Ryan Bronson, Charles Micka, Jeffrey Grayczyk, Daniel Lombardo

Proceedings Volume 11820, 118200X (2021) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2591663

KEYWORDS: Wavefronts, Temperature metrology, Glasses, Chemical elements, Interferometry, Optical fabrication, Monochromatic aberrations, Interferometers, Aluminum, Aerospace engineering

Read Abstract +

Spaceborne optical lens assemblies serve a wide range of applications, including deep-space exploratory missions, earth weather imagery, satellite reconnaissance, and surveillance. These applications demand operation over a wide range of optical performance metrics and environmental conditions. Systems deployed in space cannot afford to use the limited battery or solar power to energize motors required for maintaining focus and diffraction-limited image quality. Therefore, it is vital to develop and characterize passively athermalized solutions for spaceborne optical assemblies that are isolated from direct human contact or have limited access to power. These multi-lens element systems of varying glass materials are susceptible to small optical property changes between glass melt lots and highly dependent on the opto-mechanical assembly method; this creates large sensitivities within the system design that can result in changes in system level performance parameters. Accurate quantification of the optical system performance over the specified operating temperature range prior to flight is critical for mission success. Collins Aerospace, Mission Systems Optronics has developed an environmental test setup and interferometric wavefront measurement approach capable of quantifying the optical performance over temperature of passively athermalized spaceborne optical assemblies. Interferometric wavefront measurements are performed across the operating temperature range; resulting interferograms are analyzed and decomposed in terms of thermal defocus, low-order aberrations, and RMS wavefront error to assess final system compliance. The laboratory prototype system consists of a 633nm common-path interferometer, nitrogen-purged environmental test chamber, and retro-null reflecting pin. We use an f/3 aerospace lens, intended for deep-space application, to demonstrate these measurement techniques.

My Library

You currently do not have any folders to save your paper to! Create a new folder below.

Folder Name

Folder Description

View contact details

UPDATE YOUR PROFILE

Is this your profile? Update it now.

Sign into your SPIE.org account

Don’t have a profile and want one?

Create an account on SPIE.org

Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks. You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*

*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please sign in to access your institution's subscriptions.

To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on SPIE.org.

ORGANIZATIONAL
Sign in with credentials provided by your organization.

Organizational Username

Organizational Password

Show/Hide Password

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

Members:

Non-members: ADD TO CART

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years