SBIR-STTR Award

In this Phase I SBIR research project Blue Line Engineering will design a fully active 1/8th scale replica of the current NASA baseline for the NGST mission. This scale telescope will serve as an optically correct model of the full scale 8 meter version. The novelty of the proposed project is that it leads to an extremely useful and versatile asset for the NGST program. The main purpose of the telescope is to serve as a reality check and validation for computer models and simulations of control systems for the active primary mirror. Control algorithms may be implemented on the telescope with little modification. The scale telescope can also function as a fieldable 1 meter astronomical telescope with active figure control. It will feature hinged mirror petals and a deployable secondary as in the NGST baseline. This will allow the telescope to be stowed in a compact configuration for transport to NASA meetings and reviews. By packaging what is primarily a functional testbed as what appears to be a reasonably detailed model of the NGST telescope, we will provide NASA with a very powerful tool for the dual challenges of developing control algorithms and winning public support.

___(NOTE: Note: no official Abstract exists of this Phase II projects. Abstract is modified by idi from relevant Phase I data. The specific Phase II work statement and objectives may differ)___ In this Phase I SBIR research project Blue Line Engineering will design a fully active 1/8th scale replica of the current NASA baseline for the NGST mission. This scale telescope will serve as an optically correct model of the full scale 8 meter version. The novelty of the proposed project is that it leads to an extremely useful and versatile asset for the NGST program. The main purpose of the telescope is to serve as a reality check and validation for computer models and simulations of control systems for the active primary mirror. Control algorithms may be implemented on the telescope with little modification. The scale telescope can also function as a fieldable 1 meter astronomical telescope with active figure control. It will feature hinged mirror petals and a deployable secondary as in the NGST baseline. This will allow the telescope to be stowed in a compact configuration for transport to NASA meetings and reviews. By packaging what is primarily a functional testbed as what appears to be a reasonably detailed model of the NGST telescope, we will provide NASA with a very powerful tool for the dual challenges of developing control algorithms and winning public support.