Robert Romeo (Composite Mirror Applications, Inc.), RN Martin (Composite Mirror Applications, Inc.), SR Restaino (Naval Research Laboratory), CC Wilcox (Naval Research Laboratory), JR Andrews (Naval Research Laboratory), T Martinez (Naval Research Laboratory), F Santiago (Naval Research Laboratory), J Clark (Naval Research Laboratory), J Walton (Naval Research Laboratory), SW Teare (Naval Research Laboratory), DM Payne (Narrascape, Inc.), E Penado (Northern Arizona University), P Wood (Northern Arizona University)
Keywords: SSA applications
Abstract:
Deployable Optical/IR telescopes must be lightweight and rugged enough to withstand being placed from one location to another, in mostly adverse environments. This requires unique materials that are light, stiff and dimensionally stable in most any environment including a space environment. Continuous fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) composite materials have been used to produce ultra-lightweight optical telescopes. Their thermal/mechanical properties offer advantages over conventional materials in terms of thermal expansion, stiffness and strength. The anisotropic nature of the material allows for weight and stiffness-optimized designs of dimensionally stable structures, ideal for telescopes. Optical mirrors can be produced from CFRP composites as well; yielding 1m diameter rigid primary mirrors weighing 27 lbs. Presented will be unique telescope and mirror fabrication leading to extremely lightweight OTA systems up to 1.4m for the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer, NPOI. The 1.4m NPOI Telescope, being produced by CMA, is required to be deployable along the baselines of the interferometer. We present the design of this system and how it extrapolates to various deployable concepts for optical telescope.
Date of Conference: September 12-15, 2007
Track: Poster