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<title>NGST mirror system demonstrator from the University of Arizona</title>

2001; SPIE; Volume: 4451; Linguagem: Inglês

10.1117/12.453635

1996-756X

James H. Burge, Scott T. DeRigne, J. R. P. Angel, Brian Cuerden, Stephen Clapp, G. Rivlis, Patrick M. Woida, Paul Gohman, S. A. Bell, Robert H. Kingston,

Advanced optical system design

Future space telescopes require primary mirrors that are much lighter than those currently being manufactured. They also must maintain optical tolerances while operating at cryogenic temperatures. We present a Mirror System Demonstrator for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST) that uses a thin glass facesheet with active control to achieve low mass and high surface quality. A 2-mm thick glass facesheet is controlled by miniature actuators and held together by a rigid carbon fiber frame. The 2-m diameter mirror system weighs only 13 kg/m 2 , including the glass, supports, actuators, support structure, and cabling. We present the status of the development and testing of this revolutionary mirror.