Thermal stability tests of CFRP sandwich panels for far infrared astronomyAn account is given of fabrication methods and low temperature figure tests for CFRP sandwich panels, in order to ascertain their applicability to ultralightweight 3-m aperture primary mirrors for balloon-borne sub-mm and far-IF telescopes that must maintain a 1-2 micron rms surface figure accuracy at -40 to -50 C. Optical figure measurements on the first two of a series of four 0.5-m test panels, replicated to a spherical surface, show a radius-of-curvature change and astigmatism down to -60 C; this approximately follows the composite's theoretical predictions and implies that material and process control is excellent, so that the large scale changes observed can be compensated for.
Document ID
19870023730
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Hoffmann, W. F. (Steward Observatory Tucson, AZ, United States)
Helwig, G. (Arizona Univ. Tucson, AZ, United States)
Scheulen, D. (Dornier System GmbH Friedrichshafen, Germany)