Optical and infrared interferometry will open new vistas for astronomy over the next decade. Space based interferometers, operating unfettered by the Earth's atmosphere, will offer the greatest scientific payoff. They also present the greatest technological challenge: laser metrology systems must perform with sub-nanometer precision; mechanical vibrations must be controlled to nanometers, requiring orders of magnitude disturbance rejection; a multitude of actuators and sensors must operate flawlessly and in concert. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory along with its industry partners, Lockheed Martin and TRW, are addressing these challenges with a development program that plans to establish technology readiness for the Space Interferometry Mission by the end of 2004.
The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM): technology development progress and plans
Proceedings, IEEE Aerospace Conference ; 4 ; 4-1683 vol.4
2002-01-01
2545497 byte
Conference paper
Electronic Resource
English
6.0401 The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM): Technology Development Progress and Plans
British Library Conference Proceedings | 2002
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