MOIRE Gossamer Space Telescope - Testing Challenges and Solutions

摘要

The MOIRE optical space system, being designed by Ball Aerospace and its partners for DARPA, is a gossamer structure featuring a 10 meter diameter membrane optical element at a distance 50 meters away from the spacecraft bus, with traceability to a system with a 20 meter diameter primary optic. The program is preparing for the space based mission through large scale, ground based testing. As expected, testing an optical system based on precision membrane structures with an exceptionally long focus creates unique challenges. This paper discusses several such challenges and some of the unique solutions and capabilities that Ball Aerospace and its partners are providing.