Preliminary Optical Performance Analysis of the Space Interferometer Mission Using An Integrated Modeling Methodology

摘要

The Space Interferometer Mission (SIM) scheduled for launch in 2008, is one of the premiere missions in the Origins Program, NASA's endeavor to understand the origins of the galaxies, of planetary systems around distant stars, and perhaps the origins of life itself. The precise tolerance required by the SIM instrument facilitates the investigation of many design options, trades, and methods for minimizing interaction between the actively controlled optics and the structure. One of the activities that addresses these technological challenges is the integrated modeling methodology development and validation at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). The methodology integrates structural, optical, and control system modeling into a common computational environment and enables end-to-end performance evaluation of complex optomechanical systems.