A System Concept For A Moderate Cost Large Deployable Reflector (LDR)

Paul N. Swanson; James B. Breckinridge; Alan Diner; Robert E. Freeland; William R. Irace; Paul M. McElroy; Aden B. Meinel; A. Fernando Tolivar

doi:10.1117/12.950413

21 February 1986 A System Concept For A Moderate Cost Large Deployable Reflector (LDR)

Paul N. Swanson, James B. Breckinridge, Alan Diner, Robert E. Freeland, William R. Irace, Paul M. McElroy, Aden B. Meinel, A. Fernando Tolivar

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 0571, Large Optics Technology; (1986) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950413
Event: 29th Annual Technical Symposium, 1985, San Diego, United States

Abstract

A study was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory during the first quarter of 1985 to develop a system concept for NASA's Large Deployable Reflector (LDR). The primary scientific requirements are met and the cost and development time are minimized using this new system concept. The LDR requirements were investigated to determine whether or not the major cost drivers could be significantly relaxed without compromising the scientific utility of LDR. In particular, the telescope wavefront error is defined in a way that maximizes scientific return per dollar. Major features of the concept are a four mirror, two-stage optical system, a lightweight structural composite segmented primary reflector and a deployable truss backup structure with integral thermal shield. The two-stage optics uses active figure control at the quaternary reflector located at the primary reflector exit pupil, allowing the large primary to be passive. The lightweight composite reflector panels limit the short wavelength operation to approximately 30 μm but reduce the total primary reflector weight by a factor of 3-4 over competing technologies. System optical performance is calculated including aperture efficiency, Strehl ratio and off-axis performance. On-orbit thermal analysis indicates a primary reflector equilibrium temperature of less than 200 K with a maximum gradient of ≈5°C. Weight and volume estimates are consistent with a single shuttle launch and are based on space station assembly and checkout.

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Paul N. Swanson, James B. Breckinridge, Alan Diner, Robert E. Freeland, William R. Irace, Paul M. McElroy, Aden B. Meinel, and A. Fernando Tolivar "A System Concept For A Moderate Cost Large Deployable Reflector (LDR)", Proc. SPIE 0571, Large Optics Technology, (21 February 1986); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.950413

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