Technical and cost advantages of silicon carbide telescopes for small-satellite imaging applications

Keith J. Kasunic; Dave Aikens; Dean Szwabowski; Chip Ragan; Flemming Tinker

doi:10.1117/12.2274048

5 September 2017 Technical and cost advantages of silicon carbide telescopes for small-satellite imaging applications

Keith J. Kasunic, Dave Aikens, Dean Szwabowski, Chip Ragan, Flemming Tinker

Proceedings Volume 10402, Earth Observing Systems XXII; 104020C (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274048
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2017, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Small satellites (“SmallSats”) are a growing segment of the Earth imaging and remote sensing market. Designed to be relatively low cost and with performance tailored to specific end-use applications, they are driving changes in optical telescope assembly (OTA) requirements. OTAs implemented in silicon carbide (SiC) provide performance advantages for space applications but have been predominately limited to large programs. A new generation of lightweight and thermally-stable designs is becoming commercially available, expanding the application of SiC to small satellites. This paper reviews the cost and technical advantages of an OTA designed using SiC for small satellite platforms. Taking into account faceplate fabrication quilting and surface distortion after gravity release, an optimized open-back SiC design with a lightweighting of 70% for a 125-mm SmallSat-class primary mirror has an estimated mass area density of 2.8 kg/m² and an aspect ratio of 40:1. In addition, the thermally-induced surface error of such optimized designs is estimated at λ/150 RMS per watt of absorbed power. Cost advantages of SiC include reductions in launch mass, thermal-management infrastructure, and manufacturing time based on allowable assembly tolerances.

Citation Download Citation

Keith J. Kasunic, Dave Aikens, Dean Szwabowski, Chip Ragan, and Flemming Tinker "Technical and cost advantages of silicon carbide telescopes for small-satellite imaging applications", Proc. SPIE 10402, Earth Observing Systems XXII, 104020C (5 September 2017); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2274048

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