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Recent Status of SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory Mission: Flight Engineering Risk Reduction ActivitiesThe SIM Lite Astrometric Observatory is a mission concept for a space-borne instrument to perform micro-arc-second narrow-angle astrometry to search 60 to 100 nearby stars for Earth-like planets, and to perform global astrometry for a broad astrophysics program. The instrument consists of two Michelson stellar interferometers and a telescope. The first interferometer chops between the target star and a set of reference stars. The second interferometer monitors the attitude of the instrument in the direction of the target star. The telescope monitors the attitude of the instrument in the other two directions. The main enabling technology development for the mission was completed during phases A & B. The project is currently implementing the developed technology onto flight-ready engineering models. These key engineering tasks will significantly reduce the implementation risks during the flight phases C & D of the mission. The main optical interferometer components, including the astrometric beam combiner, the fine steering optical mechanism, the path-length-control and modulation optical mechanisms, focal-plane camera electronics and cooling heat pipe, are currently under development. Main assemblies are built to meet flight requirements and will be subjected to flight qualification level environmental testing (random vibration and thermal cycling) and performance testing. This paper summarizes recent progress in engineering risk reduction activities.
Document ID
20150009144
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Goullioud, Renaud
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Dekens, Frank
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Nemati, Bijan
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
An, Xin
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Carson, Johnathan
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
June 1, 2015
Publication Date
March 6, 2010
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 6, 2010
End Date: March 13, 2010
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, American Inst. of Aeronautics and Astronautics
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
astrometry
interferometry

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