Offset guiding through large space telescopes.

Abstract

Discussion of the merits of various space telescope system designs, both of the Ritchey-Chretien and Gregorian kinds. In particular design data for an f/2.2 to f/12.0 Ritchey-Chretien system with a five-element telecentric field corrector and for another f/3.3 to f/15.0 similar system with a two-cylindrical-element telecentric field corrector are reviewed, along with data for an f/2.5 to f/15.0 Ritchey-Chretien system with a fold mirror corrector and for an f/2.2 to f/12.0 coma-corrected Gregorian system with a five-element telecentric field corrector. The transverse aberrations, optical path differences, and other characteristics of these system design varieties are examined.-