Performance of the GP-B cryogenic guide-star telescope detectors

John H. Goebel; Robert P. Farley; George M. Keiser; Jon Kirschenbaum; John P. Turneaure; Suwen Wang

doi:10.1117/12.649702

13 September 2005 Performance of the GP-B cryogenic guide-star telescope detectors

John H. Goebel, Robert P. Farley, George M. Keiser, Jon Kirschenbaum, John P. Turneaure, Suwen Wang

Proceedings Volume 5881, Infrared and Photoelectronic Imagers and Detector Devices; 588116 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.649702
Event: Optics and Photonics 2005, 2005, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Gravity Probe-B (GP-B) is a space mission that was launched in April 2004 that is intended to measure the prediction by General Relativity Theory that a rotating gravitational field, namely the Earth's, "drags" the space-time continuum by a definite amount. GP-B utilizes a telescope with silicon photodiode detectors. Light from a distant reference frame, namely, a star designated as IM Peg, is used to reference the orbital motion of the spacecraft about the Earth and Sun to within 200 milliarcseconds at a frequency of 10 Hz. Fine angular control of the spacecraft orientation uses the signals from the telescope detectors during the 55 minute portion of the orbit during which the star is visible. The performance of the detectors and the control system's resultant pointing are discussed.

Citation Download Citation

John H. Goebel, Robert P. Farley, George M. Keiser, Jon Kirschenbaum, John P. Turneaure, and Suwen Wang "Performance of the GP-B cryogenic guide-star telescope detectors", Proc. SPIE 5881, Infrared and Photoelectronic Imagers and Detector Devices, 588116 (13 September 2005); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.649702

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