tech track papers

Categories: 2018, Aircraft Safety in a Space World and Mission Assurance

Verification Approach for Large, Complex Optical Systems: Lessons from the James Webb Space Telescope

As ever larger and complex optical imaging systems are envisioned, it will become increasingly difficult to perform full-aperture verification of the optical system in the flight configuration as required for the typical “test as you fly” approach.  Full aperture testing is challenging due to both the cost and technical feasibility. As segmented apertures grow larger, not only may the ground-aligned configuration not match the flight-aligned configuration due to degeneracies in the alignment process, but the full aperture may never be integrated prior to launch for cases with aperture sizes that require in-space assembly. The optical verification approach pioneered on the 6.5 m segmented James Webb Space Telescope provides a framework that can be scaled to future complex, large aperture space-borne optical systems and allows both for strong confidence in on-orbit performance prior to launch, cost savings, and the possibility to relax integration alignment requirements to facilitate integration whether on the ground or in space.  The Webb Telescope optical verification approach will be discussed including the system level road-mapping approach, the robust analysis validation program based on testing from the component level to the integrated telescope level, system-level analysis, and the supporting budgets used to track and cross check expected on-orbit performance and uncertainty propagation.

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Author: Allison A. Barto
Topic: Aircraft Safety in a Space World and Mission Assurance

  • Paper: Verification Approach for Large, Complex Optical Systems: Lessons from the James Webb Space Telescope

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  • Presentation: Verification Approach for Large, Complex Optical Systems: Lessons from the James Webb Space Telescope

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