Optical design for SOFIAA preliminary first-order optical design for the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is presented. This is a Cassegrain design with a 3 meter diameter, approximately f/1 primary mirror. Phenomena limiting the image quality of the telescope are divided into 'seeing', optics, and guidance. An error budget is presented for these categories and specific effects contributing to each. The seeing effects from the shear layer between the telescope cavity and the external air are expected to be dominant. Results are presented on the necessary thermal, optical, structural and guidance requirements to maintain contributions of these phenomena below that of the shear-layer seeing.
Document ID
19900024213
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Davis, Paul K. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Maa, Scott S. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Rajan, N. (Sterling Software, Inc. Palo Alto, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1989
Subject Category
Optics
Meeting Information
Meeting: Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments III