Semi-kinematic mount of the FIREBALL large optics
Abstract
In the context of the NASA CNES FIREBALL balloon borne experiment, we present the design of a semi-kinematic mount to hold the 1 meter class mirrors of this mission. To maintain these large optics in a reasonable mass and price budgets we choose thin ULE mirrors with a thickness over diameter ratio of 1/16. Such thin mirrors require a multi support mount to reduce self weight deflection. Classical multi support mount used for ground based telescope would not survive the level of shock observed in a balloon experiment either at parachute opening or landing. To firmly maintain these mirrors in several points without noticeably deforming them we investigated the design of a two stages semi-kinematic mount composed of 24 monopods. We present the detailed design of this innovative mirror mount, the finite element modeling with the deduced optical wavefront deformation. During the FIREBALL integration and flight campaign in July 2007 at CSBF, we confirmed the validity of the mechanical concept by obtaining an image quality well within the required specifications. Variants of this approach are potentially applicable to large thin mirrors on ground-based observatories.
Additional Information
© 2008 Society of Photo-optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). The authors would like to acknowledge all people from the Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, which has provided complete balloon operations services and engineering support to FIREBALL project, and Jean-Lucien Boit (LAM) for many helpful comments. Special thanks also go to CNES, Caltech and Columbia University teams for their work and constant support during integration and tests phases.Attached Files
Published - 70181Q.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 88153
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20180724-082659198
- Created
-
2018-07-24Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
-
2021-11-16Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Series Name
- Proceedings of SPIE
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 7018