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Method for Deriving Telescope Specifications for Earth-Detecting Coronagraphs and Its Use in Prioritizing Technology Development InvestmentsDifferent potential exoplanet mission concepts require different enabling and enhancing technologies. Decisions regarding prioritizing the development of these technologies can be made using a Science-Driven Systems-Engineering framework. The white paper makes the following specific recommendations. (1) Any potential telescope/coronagraph combination should develop a wavefront stability error budget using the method described in this white paper. That error budget will inform discussions about what technology development will be needed to enable the mission. (2) Enhancing and enabling technologies requiring investment include: low noise reaction wheels or control moment gyros; micro-thruster technology; active vibration isolation; materials and design practice for making lightweight stiff structures and optical components; 200-hertz wavefront sensing and control; 500-hertz sub-picometer-precision edge sensor and position actuators; non-destructive process to quantify CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) homogeneity of 4-meter class mirrors to an uncertainty of plus or minus 1 parts per billion per degree Kelvin over a 100 by 100 sampling; laser gauge positional metrology system; and predictive active thermal control.
Document ID
20190028308
Acquisition Source
Marshall Space Flight Center
Document Type
Other
Authors
Nemati, Bijan
(Alabama Univ. Huntsville, AL, United States)
Stahl, H. Philip
(NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Huntsville, AL, United States)
Date Acquired
July 29, 2019
Publication Date
January 1, 2019
Subject Category
Astronomy
Optics
Report/Patent Number
MSFC-E-DAA-TN70875
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NNM11AA01A
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Public Use Permitted.
Keywords
Space Mirror Technology
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