SYSTEM FOR DEPLOYING PETALS OF SECTORED MIRROR OF OPTICAL SPACE TELESCOPE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a petal deployment system for an optical space telescope that exhibits a high degree of precision and accommodates thermal expansion experienced in an operational environment.;SOLUTION: The system for deploying the petals of a sectored mirror assembly of the optical space telescope 10 includes a first hinge assembly 100, a second hinge assembly 200, and a latch assembly 300. The first hinge assembly 100 affords the petals 20a to 20f associated therewith freedom of rotation about a petal hinge axis. The second hinge assembly 200 affords the petals 20a to 20f associated therewith freedom of rotation about the petal hinge axis and freedom to expand thermally. A pair of laterally opposed latch mechanism of a latch assembly 300 engage the clevis upon rotation of the petal about the hinge axis from a stowed position to a deployed position, and fix the petals 20a to 20f so as to be free to expand thermally.;COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT