An ultra-lightweight, large aperture, deployable telescope for advanced lidar applications

Year: 2017

Authors: Mazzinghi P., Bratina V., Ferruzzi D., Gambicorti L., Simonetti F., Zuccaro Marchi A., Salinari P., Lisi F., Olivier M., Bursi A., Pereira Do Carmo J.

Autors Affiliation: National Institute of Applied Optics (INOA-CNR), Largo Enrico Fermi, 6, Firenze, 50125, Italy; INAF, Arcetri Astrophysics Observatory, Largo Enrico Fermi, 6, Firenze, 50125, Italy; Carlo Gavazzi Space (CGS), via Gallarate, 15, Milano, 20151, Italy; Europe Space Agency, ESTEC/TEC-MMO, Keplerlaan 1, Noordwijk, 2200 AG, Netherlands

Abstract: This work presents a new technological concept for large aperture, lightweight, telescopes using thin deployable active mirrors, currently under a feasibility study for spaceborne Lidars. The study is mainly addressed to a DIAL (Differential Absorption Lidar) at 935.5 nm for the measurement of water vapour profile in atmosphere, to be part of a typical small ESA Earth Observation satellite to be launched with ROCKOT vehicle. A detailed telescope optical design will be presented, including the results of angular and spatial resolution, effective optical aperture and radiometric transmission, optical alignment tolerances, stray-light and baffling. Also the results of a complete thermo-mechanical model will be shown, discussing temporal and thermal stability, deployment technology and performances, overall mass budget, technological and operational risk and system complexity.

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More Information: The authors are grateful to the Europe Space Agency (ESA) for the opportunity offered to develop this research under the contract AO/1-4629/NL/CP. The authors are grateful to the ADS International SRL for picture on the actuator.
KeyWords: Budget control; Earth atmosphere; Light; Light transmission; Optical design; Stray light; Telescopes; Water absorption, Active Optics; Deployable telescopes; Differential absorption lidars; Earth observation satellites; Large aperture telescopes; Space lidar; Technological concept; Thermomechanical model, Optical radar
DOI: 10.1117/12.2308098