On the Use of Electrostrictive Actuators in Recovering the Optical Performance of the Hubble Space Telescope

1994 ◽  
Vol 360 ◽  
Author(s):  
James L. Fanson
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Spherical Aberration ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Optical Performance ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
Jet Propulsion ◽  
Primary Mirror ◽  
Optical Correction ◽  
Active Mirror ◽  
Multilayer Actuators

AbstractThis paper describes the development of a space qualified active mirror—the Articulating Fold Mirror—which forms part of the scheme for recovering the optical performance of the Hubble Space Telescope. Three Articulating Fold Mirrors are incorporated into the optical train of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Wide Field and Planetary Camera-2, which was installed into Hubble by astronauts in December, 1993. Each Articulating Fold Mirror utilizes six electrostrictive ceramic multilayer actuators to precisely position a mirror in tip and tilt in order to correct the spherical aberration of the Hubble Space Telescope's primary mirror. Flight qualification aspects of the electrostrictive actuators are described. Pre- and postrepair images from the Wide Field and Planetary Camera, showing the effect of the optical correction, are presented.

scholarly journals Searching for Low–Mass Companions with the HST WF/PC

1992 ◽  
Vol 135 ◽  
pp. 365-368
Author(s):  
William A. Baum
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Spherical Aberration ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
Optical Correction ◽  
Nearby Stars ◽  
Low Mass ◽  
Search Capability

AbstractOwing to the spherical aberration of the Hubble Space Telescope, prospects are now poor for the astrometric detection of low–mass companions of nearby stars with the Wide–Field / Planetary Camera. The installation of a new camera (WF/PC-II) incorporating an optical correction for the telescope will only partially recover the low–mass companion search capability.

Wide Field Camera 3 instrument optical design for the Hubble Space Telescope

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Turner-Valle ◽  
Joseph Sullivan ◽  
John E. Mentzell ◽  
Robert A. Woodruff
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Optical Design ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Space Telescope

scholarly journals Hubble Space Telescope observations of Europa in and out of eclipse

2010 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
W.B. Sparks ◽  
M. McGrath ◽  
K. Hand ◽  
H.C. Ford ◽  
P. Geissler ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Broad Band ◽  
Line Emission ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
High Energy ◽  
High Energy Particle ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Particle Radiation ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
Solar Blind

AbstractEuropa is a prime target for astrobiology and has been prioritized as the next target for a National Aeronautics and Space Administration flagship mission. It is important, therefore, that we advance our understanding of Europa, its ocean and physical environment as much as possible. Here, we describe observations of Europa obtained during its orbital eclipse by Jupiter using the Hubble Space Telescope. We obtained Advanced Camera for Surveys Solar Blind Channel far ultraviolet low-resolution spectra that show oxygen line emission both in and out of eclipse. We also used the Wide-Field and Planetary Camera-2 and searched for broad-band optical emission from fluorescence of the surface material, arising from the very high level of incident energetic particle radiation on ices and potentially organic substances. The high-energy particle radiation at the surface of Europa is extremely intense and is responsible for the production of a tenuous oxygen atmosphere and associated FUV line emission. Approximately 50% of the oxygen emission lasts at least a few hours into the eclipse. We discuss the detection limits of the optical emission, which allow us to estimate the fraction of incident energy reradiated at optical wavelengths, through electron-excited emission, Cherenkov radiation in the ice and fluorescent processes.

scholarly journals Current Status of the Astrometric Capabilities of the Hubble Space Telescope Fine Guidance Sensors

1991 ◽  
Vol 127 ◽  
pp. 68-76
Author(s):  
W.H. Jefferys ◽  
G.F. Benedict ◽  
R.L. Duncombe ◽  
O.G. Franz ◽  
L.W. Fredrick ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Optical System ◽  
Reference Frames ◽  
Optical Axis ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Spherical Aberration ◽  
Radial Distance ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
Wavefront Error

AbstractThe Fine Guidance Sensors (FGSs) are the instrument of choice for most astrometric measurements with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). The observed amount of spherical aberration in the Ritchey Chretien optical system does not affect positional measurements with perfectly aligned FGSs because they are interferometers. The FGSs combine wavefronts from points in the exit pupil with other points which are at the same radial distance from the optical axis. Asymmetric aberrations such as coma and astigmatism do affect the measured positions. The current knowledge of the HST wavefront error, the FGS operation and the implications for milliarcsecond relative astrometry are discussed. It is still planned to use the HST to tie the HIPPARCOS and VLBI Reference Frames together at the few milliarcsecond level.

scholarly journals HST Image Restoration: Current Capabilities and Future Prospects

1994 ◽  
Vol 158 ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Hanisch ◽  
Richard L. White
Keyword(s):  
Image Restoration ◽  
Dynamic Range ◽  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Spherical Aberration ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Secondary Mirror ◽  
Faint Object ◽  
Spread Function ◽  
Restoration Algorithms ◽  
Space Variant

The spherical aberration in the primary mirror of the Hubble Space Telescope causes more than 80% of the light from a point source to be spread into a halo of radius of 2–3 arcsec. The point spread function (PSF) is both time variant (resulting from spacecraft jitter and desorption of the secondary mirror support structure) and space variant (owing to the Cassegrain repeater optics in the Wide Field / Planetary Camera). A variety of image restoration algorithms have been utilized on HST data with some success, although optimal restorations require better modeling of the PSF and the development of efficient restoration algorithms that accommodate a spacevariant PSF. The first HST servicing mission (December 1993) will deploy a corrective optics system for the Faint Object Camera and the two spectrographs and a second generation WF/PC with internal corrective optics. As simulations demonstrate, however, the restoration algorithms developed now for aberrated images will be very useful for removing the remaining diffraction features and optimizing dynamic range in post-servicing mission data.

Flatfielding and photometric accuracy of the first Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera

1994 ◽  
Vol 107 ◽  
pp. 1904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew C. Phillips ◽  
Duncan A. Forbes ◽  
Matthew A. Bershady ◽  
Garth D. Illingworth ◽  
David C. Koo
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope Medium Deep Survey with the Wide Field and Planetary Camera. 1: Methodology and results on the field near 3C 273

1994 ◽  
Vol 437 ◽  
pp. 67 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. Griffiths ◽  
K. U. Ratnatunga ◽  
L. W. Neuschaefer ◽  
S. Casertano ◽  
M. Im ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hubble Space Telescope ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Space Telescope ◽  
Deep Survey
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