Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph flight baseline 1 design report
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TPF-C↗
Engineering topics
Ford, Virginia G.
Publications and source records attributed to Ford, Virginia G..
Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph 2005: Overview of Technology Development and System Design Studies
Technology research, design trades, and modeling and analysis guide the definition of a Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph Mission that will search for and characterize earth-like planets around near-by stars. Operating in visible wavebands, this mission will use coronagraphy techniques to suppress starlight to enable capturing and imaging the reflected light from a planet orbiting in the habitable zone of its parent star. The light will be spectrally characterized to determine the presence of life-indicating chemistry in the planet atmosphere.
coronagraph↗
Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph and Enabling Technologies
Starlight suppression research is Stowed in Delta IV-H advancing rapidly to approach the required contrast ratio. The current analysis of the TPF Coronagraph system indicates that it is feasible to achieve the stability required by using developing technologies: a) Wave Front Sensing and Control (DMs, control algorithms, and sensing); b) Laser metrology. Yet needed: a) Property data measured with great precision in the required environments; b) Modeling tools that are verified with testbeds.
Terrestrial Planet Finder↗
Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph : technology and mission design studies
The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) coronagraph study involves exploring the technologies that enable a coronagraph style instrument to image and characterize earth-like planets orbiting nearby stars. Testbeds have been developed to demonstrate the emerging technologies needed for this effort and an architecture study has resulted in designs of a facility that will provide the environment needed for the technology to function in this role. A broad community of participants is involved in this work through studies, analyses, fabrication of components, and participation in the design effort. The scope of activities - both on the technology side and in the architecture study side - will be presented in this paper. The status and the future plans of the activities will be reviewed.
space↗
Terrestrial Planet Finder coronagraph status and enabling technologies
The goal of the Terrestrial Planet Finder Project Mission is to find life-bearing planets around nearby stars. Two types of instruments are competing for flight in 2015: a visible coronagraph and an infrared interferometer.
large telescopes↗
Are they out there? the search for habitable planets
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coronagraph↗
Terrestrial Planet Finder coronagraph
This paper and oral presentation will describe the technology studies, the testbeds, and the architecture studies that will enhance the understanding and viability of a Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph. Topics to be described fall in two categories: technology development and coronagraph mission design. The focus of the paper will be explanation of the tasks, their organization and current status.
Cohen, Eri↗
Optomechanical Design of Ten Modular Cameras for the Mars Exploration Rovers
This viewgraph presentation reviews the design and fabrication of the modular cameras for the Mars Exploration Rovers. In the 2003 mission there were to be 2 landers and 2 rovers, each were to have 10 cameras each. Views of the camera design, the lens design, the lens interface with the detector assembly, the detector assembly, the electronics assembly are shown.
cameras↗
Design of New Photodiode Standards for Use in the MISR In-Flight Calibrator
Many next generation remote sensing systems plan to use solar reflecting, diffuse standards to calibrate their sensors in-flight. As these diffusers are subject to UV degradation and contamination.
MISR Photodiode↗
State of The Art Radiometer Standards For NASA'S Earth Observing System
The Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), to be launched in 1998, is one of five instruments on NASA's first Earth Observing System (EOS) platform. The 3% absolute radiometric calibration requirement is considered challenging, particularly since it must be maintained through the five-year mission life. The Instrument requirements have led to the development of an On-Board Calibrator (OBC) consisting of diffuse panels and photodiode-based radiometric standards.
SpectroRadiometer↗
Multi-Angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) Design Issues Influenced by Performance Requirements
The design of an Earth remote sensing sensor, such as the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), begins with a set of science requirements that determine a set of instrument specifications. It is required that the sensor meet these specifications across the image field, over a range of sensor operating temperatures, and throughout mission life. In addition, data quality must be maintained irrespective of bright objects, such as clouds, within the scene, or out-of-field glint sources. During the design phase of MISR, many refinements to the conceptual design have been made to insure that these performance criteria are met. These design considerations are the focus of this paper. Spectral stability with field angle, scene polarization insensitivity, and LTV exposure hardness have, for example, been enabled through a telecentric optical design, a gaussian shaped filter spectral profile used in conjunction with a Lyot depolarizer, and contamination prevention through consideration of material choices and handling procedures. Spectral, radiometric, and MTF stability of the instrument assures the scientific community that MISR imagery can be used for highly accurate aerosol, bi-directional reflectance distribution function (BRDF), and cloud studies.
Bruegge, Carol J.↗
Lightweight Memory-Metal Pin Puller
Memory-metal pin puller designed for use in aperture-cover mechanism of camera aboard spacecraft adapted to small-volume instrument environments that must be kept free of contamination. Includes memory-metal wires pulling pin when heated. Small and light in weight, uses relatively simple electronic drive circuitry consisting of timed source of current. Adapted to operate at cryogenic temperatures and in vacuum as well as in normal-temperature environment, cycled large number of times without degradation of performance.
Ford, Virginia G.↗
Thermally Actuated Unlatching Mechanism
Thermally actuated latch releases component initially secured to it, when cooled to predetermined temperature lower than initial temperature. Includes supporting arm and spring-loaded hook made of titanium, and engaging arm made of epoxy or high-density polyethylene. As latch cools, engaging arm shrinks away from hook, and spring drives hook away from arm. Latch used to retain cover of cryogenic aerospace instrument during launch through intermediate cooling. With nonmoving hook, latch used to prevent door of industrial furnace from being opened until furnace cools to safe temperature.
Ford, Virginia G.↗