Optical test and measurement methods for mechanical structures used in space flight application and for space telescope applications

Paper number

IAC-06-C2.2.05

Author

Prof. Pierre Rochus, Centre Spatial de Liège, Belgium

Coauthor

Dr. Stéphane Roose, Centre Spatial de Liège, Belgium

Coauthor

Dr. Yvan Stockman, Centre Spatial de Liège, Belgium

Coauthor

Dr. Yvette Houbrechts, Centre Spatial de Liège, Belgium

Coauthor

Dr. Marc Georges, Centre Spatial de Liège, Belgium

Coauthor

Mr. Cédric Thizy, Centre Spatial de Liège, Belgium

Coauthor

Dr. Dominic Doyle, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Graham Coe, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Year

2006

Abstract

Although there is a continuous effort from the optical metrology community to develop and improve metrology techniques, this paper demonstrates that there is no universal method to measure mechanical structures and even to test IR to sub mm space telescope. The reason is the large variety of requirements of such hardware, which are strongly linked to the scientific demands. In the present paper one will show the complexity of the measurement of space telescopes structures, it will emphasize the fact that a measurement method can only be identified if the characteristics of the mechanical structure, the end product of the measurement and the environment are well known.
To provide a better view on the practical optical method, general characteristics of measurement methods, will be reviewed. This review is not exhaustive at all, and it is based on a selection of recent developments that have proven to be successful in their use.
One of the objectives is to show with practical examples, success stories, what optics can do to measure large mechanical structures for space optics. One will also emphasize on lessons learned and difficulties.

Abstract document

IAC-06-C2.2.05.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-C2.2.05.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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