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Image Guider Subsystem Analysis for the GHAPS ProjectThe Gondola for High-Altitude Planetary Science (GHAPS) project is a balloon-borne astronomical observatory designed operate in the UV, Visible, and near-mid IR spectral region. The GHAPS Optical Telescope Assembly (OTA) is designed around a one meter aperture narrow field-of-view telescope with near-diffraction-limited performance. GHAPS will utilize Wallops Arc-Second Pointing System (WASP) for pointing the OTA with an accuracy of 1 arc second or better. WASP relies heavily on a self-contained star tracker assembly to determine the OTA line of sight. Preliminary structural analysis indicates that potential misalignments could be present between the OTA line of sight and the star tracker FOV center during the expected flight conditions that could compromise GHAPS pointing accuracy. In response the GHAPS project undertook a trade study to resolve the following issues: (1) estimate the worst case long-term (or bias) pointing misalignments for the GHAPS opto-mechanical configuration, (2) examine the need for additional hardware to correct pointing errors, and (3) determine the best hardware and software implementation to do so. Quantitative comparisons of performance and qualitative estimates of other factors such as mass, volume, power consumption, and cost are combined into an overall assessment of potential solutions. Results are discussed and a recommended implementation is given that is optimized to best achieve pointing performance goals, while minimizing impact to the design, cost, and resources of the GHAPS project.
Document ID
20180005323
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Lewis, Michael J.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Juergens, Jeffrey R.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Aretskin-Hariton, Eliot D.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Woodruff, Robert
(Woodruff (Robert) Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
September 17, 2018
Publication Date
June 10, 2018
Subject Category
Optics
Astronomy
Report/Patent Number
GRC-E-DAA-TN56626
Meeting Information
Meeting: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation
Location: Austin, TX
Country: United States
Start Date: June 10, 2018
End Date: June 15, 2018
Sponsors: International Society for Optical Engineering
Funding Number(s)
WBS: WBS 33676301.05.02.04.10.01
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNC16CA44C
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Star Tracker
Image Guider
Telescope Guider
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