Dr. Robert A. Laskin Profile

Dr. Robert A. Laskin

Retired at Jet Propulsion Lab

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Proceedings Article | 19 September 2007 Paper

SIM PlanetQuest science and technology: a status report

Stephen Edberg, Robert Laskin, James Marr, Stephen Unwin, Michael Shao

Proceedings Volume 6693, 66930D (2007) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.732728

KEYWORDS: Stars, Planets, Galactic astronomy, Astrophysics, Radio optics, Planetary systems, James Webb Space Telescope, Space operations, Motion measurement, Distance measurement

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Optical interferometry will open new vistas for astronomy over the next decade. The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM-PlanetQuest), operating unfettered by the Earth's atmosphere, will offer unprecedented astrometric precision that promises the discovery of Earth-analog extra-solar planets as well as a wealth of important astrophysics. Results from SIM will permit the determination of stellar masses to accuracies of 2% or better for objects ranging from brown dwarfs through main sequence stars to evolved white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Studies of star clusters will yield age determinations and internal dynamics. Microlensing measurements will present the mass spectrum of the Milky Way internal to the Sun while proper motion surveys will show the Sun's orbital radius and speed. Studies of the Galaxy's halo component and companion dwarf galaxies permit the determination of the Milky Way's mass distribution, including its Dark Matter component and the mass distribution and Dark Matter component of the Local Group. Cosmology benefits from precision (1-2%) determination of distances to Cepheid and RR Lyrae standard candles. The emission mechanism of supermassive black holes will be investigated. Finally, radio and optical celestial reference frames will be tied together by an improvement of two orders of magnitude. Optical interferometers present severe technological challenges. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, with the support of Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center (LM ATC) and Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST), has addressed these challenges with a technology development program that is now complete. The requirements for SIM have been satisfied, based on outside peer review, using a series of laboratory tests and appropriate computer simulations: laser metrology systems perform with 10 picometer precision; mechanical vibrations have been controlled to nanometers, demonstrating orders of magnitude disturbance rejection; and knowledge of component positions throughout the whole test assembly has been demonstrated to the required picometer level. Technology transfer to the SIM flight team is now well along.

Proceedings Article | 28 June 2006 Paper

Successful completion of SIM-PlanetQuest technology

Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 6268, 626823 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.670849

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Metrology, Stars, Sensors, Data modeling, Telescopes, Space telescopes, Instrument modeling, Performance modeling, Laser metrology

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Proceedings Article | 20 October 2004 Paper

Space Interferometry Mission (SIM): technology completion and transition to flight

Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 5491, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550796

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Metrology, Stars, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Sensors, Optical testing, Laser metrology, Interferometry, Mirrors

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Proceedings Article | 26 February 2003 Paper

SIM technology development overview: light at the end of the tunnel

Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 4852, (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.460721

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Stars, Metrology, Space telescopes, Telescopes, Sensors, Optical testing, Software development, Laser metrology, Control systems

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Proceedings Article | 5 July 2000 Paper

Overview and status of the Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) technology development

Robert Laskin, Jeffrey Yu

Proceedings Volume 4006, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.390181

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Metrology, Stars, Software development, Interferometry, Control systems, Thermography, Sensors, Mirrors, Space telescopes

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Proceedings Article | 7 December 1999 Paper

Space Interferometry Mission (SIM): meeting the technology challenge

Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 3872, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.373274

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Metrology, Software development, Stars, Interferometry, Control systems, Mirrors, Thermography, Space operations, Laser applications

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Proceedings Article | 24 July 1998 Paper

Technology for space optical and infrared interferometry

Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 3350, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.317129

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Software development, Interferometry, Aerospace engineering, Stars, Space operations, Astronomical imaging, Control systems, Metrology, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 26 May 1998 Paper

Multiaxis vibration isolation, suppression, and steering system for space observational applications

Zahidul Rahman, John Spanos, Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 3351, (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.308821

KEYWORDS: Vibration isolation, Optical isolators, Passive isolation, Active isolation, Space operations, Actuators, Interferometers, Cameras, Sensors, Control systems

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Proceedings Article | 12 October 1996 Paper

Separated-spacecraft interferometer concept for the New Millennium Program

M. Mark Colavita, James McGuire, Randall Bartman, Gary Blackwood, Robert Laskin, Kenneth Lau, Michael Shao, Jeffrey Yu

Proceedings Volume 2807, (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.255122

KEYWORDS: Space operations, Interferometers, Sensors, Gyroscopes, Laser metrology, Charge-coupled devices, Mirrors, Stars, Spatial resolution, Beam splitters

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Proceedings Article | 26 June 1995 Paper

System-wide design issues for the stellar interferometer technology experiment (SITE)

David Miller, Samuel Crawford, T. Tupper Hyde, Brett Masters, Edward Crawley, Gary Blackwood, M. Mark Colavita, Jeffrey Yu, Michael Shao, Robert Laskin

Proceedings Volume 2477, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.212998

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Sensors, Stars, Wavefronts, Space operations, Optical benches, Control systems, Aerospace engineering, Visibility, Spatial resolution

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Proceedings Article | 31 May 1994 Paper

Technology for quiet optical systems in space

Robert Laskin, James Fanson

Proceedings Volume 2201, (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.176118

KEYWORDS: Interferometers, Signal attenuation, Fermium, Frequency modulation, Optical components, Space telescopes, Vibration isolation, Astronomical imaging, Control systems, Adaptive optics

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Showing 5 of 11 publications

Conference Committee Involvement (4)

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2020: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

14 December 2020 | Online Only, California, United States

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2018: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

10 June 2018 | Austin, Texas, United States

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave

26 June 2016 | Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2016: Optical, Infrared, and Millimeter Wave Posters

26 June 2016 | Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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