Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2009 · 13 citations · 3 references
Natural SciencesAerospace EngineeringAstronomyOptical AstronomyOpticsSpacecraft DesignInfrared TelescopesObservatory InstrumentationObservatory OperationsSpacecraft StructuresTelescope OpticsUltraviolet TelescopesIn-orbit ServicingInfrared Space Telescope DesignMirror SystemsMission Concept DevelopmentOn-orbit ServicingOptical Telescope SystemsPrimary Mirror DesignUltraviolet Space Telescope Design
ATLAST-8 is an 8-meter monolithic UV/optical/NIR space observatory to be placed in orbit at Sun-Earth L2 by NASA's planned Ares V cargo launch vehicle. ATLAST-8 will yield fundamental astronomical breakthroughs. A one year mission concept study has developed a detailed point design for the optical telescope assembly and spacecraft. The mission concept assumes two enabling technologies: NASA's planned Ares-V launch vehicle (scheduled for 2019) and autonomous rendezvous and docking (AR&D). The unprecedented Ares-V payload and mass capacity enables the use of a massive, monolithic, thin-meniscus primary mirror - similar to a VLT or Subaru. Furthermore, it enables simple robust design rules to mitigate cost, schedule and performance risk. AR&D enables on-orbit servicing, extending mission life and enhancing science return.
3