Tests of a high-resolution three-mirror anastigmat telescope

Thierry Bret-Dibat; Vincent Albouys; Jacques Berthon; N. Bouzou; Pierre Etcheto; David Laubier; K. Mercier

doi:10.1117/12.373170

28 December 1999 Tests of a high-resolution three-mirror anastigmat telescope

Thierry Bret-Dibat, Vincent Albouys, Jacques Berthon, N. Bouzou, Pierre Etcheto, David Laubier, K. Mercier

Proceedings Volume 3870, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites III; (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.373170
Event: Remote Sensing, 1999, Florence, Italy

Abstract

With the 3S program (the French acronym for SPOT System Follow-on), CNES intends to continue the SPOT Earth Observation mission with the purpose of achieving severe costs reduction. This increases the need for new, lighter, more compact technologies for the payload. Therefore, CNES has launched preliminary studies in some critical payload domains. The paper deals with the work done in order to demonstrate the feasibility of a small telescope that can be used onboard a mini-satellite. A Three-Mirror Anastigmat (TMA) telescope breadboard has been manufactured using the same technologies that would be required to provide in-orbit stability. The TMA has excellent image quality over its whole 8.4 X 1.4 degree FOV and an intrinsic compactness that makes it much smaller than its focal length: as a result, the whole telescope weighs about 40 kg. The paper particularly focuses on the telescope design, the alignment method and the optical performance under stable laboratory environment. The behavior of the telescope under space environment is described, as well as the tests conducted to validate the computed optical performance under thermal variations and vibrations conditions.

Citation Download Citation

Thierry Bret-Dibat, Vincent Albouys, Jacques Berthon, N. Bouzou, Pierre Etcheto, David Laubier, and K. Mercier "Tests of a high-resolution three-mirror anastigmat telescope", Proc. SPIE 3870, Sensors, Systems, and Next-Generation Satellites III, (28 December 1999); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.373170

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available