Research Summaries

Back Cost-Effective Large Aperture Imaging Satellites

Fiscal Year 2016
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Investigator(s) Agrawal, Jr., Brij N.
Sponsor Department of Defense Space (DoD)
Summary In order to achieve longer dwell time over a specific target without sacrificing the imaging resolution, both the satellite orbit and the mirror aperture size needs to be increased. There are different approaches to realize a large aperture for high resolution, such as large monolithic mirror design, segmented/deployable design, modular/on-orbit assembly design, and sparse aperture design. Regardless of the choice of approaches, there are significant technical challenges to achieve low Size Weight and Power (SWaP), rapid manufacturing process, reduced integration and test schedule, and reduced complexity, which are critical to maintain affordability in terms of cost and schedule. The overall objective of the proposed effort is to develop and evaluate key technologies required to achieve cost-effective large-aperture space mirrors, to perform technology demonstration of promising techniques in the laboratory, and to provide design and systems study for readiness determination of these technologies. NPS has developed collaborative arrangements with DoD and industry and identified key NPS technology focus areas that are applicable for one of more approaches for a large aperture in space. The proposed technology areas will include the deformable mirror technology, Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) application, advanced phasing and wavefront control, and sparse aperture synthesis using small satellites aiming to provide cost-effective and robust solutions for large-aperture space mirrors.
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Publications Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal
Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal