The Flexure Assembly Design For The SIRTF One-Meter Primary Mirror

R. M. Richard; D Vukobratovich; M. Cho; L. W. Pollard; R. K. Melugin

doi:10.1117/12.948343

27 April 1988 The Flexure Assembly Design For The SIRTF One-Meter Primary Mirror

R. M. Richard, D Vukobratovich, M. Cho, L. W. Pollard, R. K. Melugin

Proceedings Volume 0973, Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments III; (1988) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.948343
Event: 32nd Annual International Technical Symposium on Optical and Optoelectronic Applied Science and Engineering, 1988, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

A titanium flexure assembly for the Space Infrared Telescope Facility (SIRTF) 1-m primary mirror has been designed to accommodate (1) the cryogenic cool-down effect on the optical performance of the mirror, (2) the shuttle launch-load envi:onment, and (3) the support-baseplate manufacturing tolerances. Numerous iterations involving a multi-dimensional design space search led to an assembly design that provides the stiffness and strength in the vertical (optical axis) and tangential directions to accommodate launch loads, but is compliant radially to accommodate cryogenic cool down. A "folded back" titanium flexure system was required because of the differential thermal contraction of the aluminum telescope baseplate support and the fused-silica mirror. This unique and innovative flexure assembly represents a totally passive mechanism for accommodating the design launch loads, cryogenic cool down, and out-of-plane baseplate effects.

Citation Download Citation

R. M. Richard, D Vukobratovich, M. Cho, L. W. Pollard, and R. K. Melugin "The Flexure Assembly Design For The SIRTF One-Meter Primary Mirror", Proc. SPIE 0973, Cryogenic Optical Systems and Instruments III, (27 April 1988); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.948343

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