NASA Space

Instrument and Sensing Technology

Telescope Technology Program

On this page:

• Telescope Technology Program Goals and Objectives
• Telescope Technology Program Accomplishments
• Telescope Technology Program Progress Reports
• Additional Information

Telescope Technology Program Goals and Objectives

The NASA OSAT Telescope Technology Program has a goal of developing and demonstrating design, materials, processing, fabrication and test technology to enable lightweight, low cost instrument and telescope systems for future NASA missions and commercial applications. This is a new program in FY'94, the initial emphasis is on integrated ultralight optical instrument systems and low mass, low temperature IR telescope systems.

Telescope Technology Program Accomplishments

• Composite Reflector Selected for Earth Observing System (EOS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS)!. This technology was developed under the NASA OSAT Precision Segmented Reflector (PSR) program, which ended in fiscal year 1992.
• The Telescope Technology program co-funded the development of innovative, integrated optics for the Planetary Integrated Camera-Spectrometer (PICS). See also the NASA Press RELEASE: 95-195, REVOLUTIONARY NEW MINIATURE SENSOR SYSTEM DEVELOPED (10/27/95).
• In a remarkable example of faster, better, cheaper engineering, JPL has developed a state-of-the-art Cryogenic Optical Test Facility (COTF). The COTF advanced from concept development to operation in 12 months. The total cost was $800K, provided jointly by OSAT, OSS and JPL institutional funding. JPL minimized development costs by utilizing existing hardware (interferometer, vibration isolation legs, crane, pumps, etc.) from previous programs whenever possible. Janis Research developed the large helium test Dewar. The optical axis of the COTF is oriented vertically and optics up to 1.3 meter in diameter can be tested via phase shifting interferometry in either the "looking up" or "looking down" orientation. For more information see the STTF - SIRTF Telescope Test Facility from the Low Temperature Science & Engineering Group at JPL.
  A 50 centimeter diameter beryllium test mirror developed by the Telescope Technology Program last year and characterized at liquid helium temperature in the small test facility at the Ames Research Center is being utilized to checkout and calibrate and the COTF. In initial tests interoferometric data was in excellent agreement with that obtained previously.
• Infrared Telescope Technology Testbed (ITTT) Highlight (October 1994)

Telescope Technology Program Progress Reports

Annual Reports

For a good overview of this activity see:

• The Telescope Technology page from the Research and Technology 1995 Annual Report from TAP at JPL.
• The Telescope Technology page from the Research and Technology 1994 Annual Report from TAP at JPL.

Quarterly Progress Reports

• Telescope Technology Program Second Quarter FY 1995 Progress Report (January through March 1995)
• Quarterly reports between July and December 1994 are not currently available on-line.
• Telescope Technology Program Third Quarter FY 1994 Progress Report (April to June 1994)
• Narrative Description of Telescope Technology Program (see quarterly report for more up-to-date information)

Additional Information

Related Developments

• PAMELA (Phased Array Mirror, Extendable Large Aperture) Telescope Testbed. This testbed consisting of 36 mirror segements recently operated successfully. This effort is supported in part by OSAT and is being conducted at the NASA Marshall Spaceflight Center. More information will be available soon.

Announcements

none at the moment...

Aditional Sources of Information

• NASA GSFC Optics Branch - Code 717 from GSFC.
• Astrionics Laboratory Home Page from MSFC.
• Some information on Optics and Telescope related activities is available from the Lasers and Imaging Directorate of the Air Force Phillips Laboratory.
• OSA OpticsNet
• SPIE Home Page
• The Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) is a six-agency, dual-use technology investment effort. Here are some links to optics related activities under the TRP:
• Practice-Oriented Master's in Optics (POMO)
• Newsgroup Newsgroup sci.optics (this link not supported by all browsers).
• From the National Research Council:
• A STRATEGY FOR GROUND-BASED OPTICAL AND INFRARED ASTRONOMY
• Atomic, Molecular, and Optical Science: An Investment in the Future
• Telescopes In Education (TIE) Program

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