Airborne open port optical systems have been in use for many years for gathering data on ground, airborne, and space targets. The requirement for ever-greater sensitivity is driving developers toward much larger telescopes and more massive support structures. The mass of the system rises roughly proportional to the square of the aperture diameter. This proposal will focus on development of optimal structural architectures for the one-meter class open port optical systems. By using actively controlled structures and optics with innovative mounting approaches, the installed mass of the systems may be minimized Anticipated Benefits/Commercial Applications: Light weight, large aperture airborne optical system architecture suitable for high altitude airships conduction missile defense support, environmental monitoring or astrometry research
Keywords: Optical, Airborne, Airship, Smart structure, Active optics, Missile defense, Open port, Lightweight telescopes
