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Effect of jet engine exhaust on SOFIA straylight performanceThe Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) is being designed at NASA's Ames Research Center as a replacement for the Kuiper Airborne Observatory (KAO). A 2.5-m Nasmyth telescope will be mounted in a Boeing 747 SP and flown at 41,000 ft, above most of the H2O in the earth's atmosphere. In the original SOFIA design, the telescope is located in front of the wings, as it is in the KAO. An alternative design with the telescope placed behind the wings is being studied as part of an effort to reduce cost and weight. In this location, the emission from the engines and the hot H2O molecules in the exhaust become significant straylight sources. The engines and exhaust radiate into the telescope cavity, and illuminate the primary and tertiary mirrors at low telescope elevation angles. The APART/PADE program was used to analyze the straylight at the SOFIA focal plane as a function of wavelength and telescope elevation angle. The emission from the engines and exhaust gas is compared to that from the earth and the telescope itself. Based on the results of this analysis, the SOFIA telescope has been moved behind the wings.
Document ID
19930071181
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
St. Clair Dinger, Ann
(Sterling Software, Inc.; NASA, Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 16, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1993
Publication Information
Publication: In: Stray radiation in optical systems II; Proceedings of the Meeting, San Diego, CA, July 20-22, 1992 (A93-55176 24-74)
Publisher: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers
Subject Category
Optics
Accession Number
93A55178
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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