Photoheliograph alignment system, November 1967 - June 1968

Design and operation of photoheliograph alignment system for use with Apollo telescope moun

Design, development and fabrication of a Precision Autocollimating Solar Sensor /PASS/

Precision Autocollimating Solar Sensor /PASS/ for Solar Pointing Aerobee Rocket Control System /SPARCS/ progra

Gravity gradient stabilization system for the applications technology satellite Fifth monthly progress report, 1-30 Nov. 1964

Gravity gradient stabilization and attitude sensing systems for applications technology satellit

Experimental Comparison of Interference and Autocollimating Null Indicators

Introduction. At present, measurement of angles with high accuracy is an essential task in various scientific and industrial fields. The goniometer is one of the most widespread high-precision angle measuring devices, which can incorporate various types of null indicators. In turn, null indicators (NI) are based on different operating principles and can be sensitive to external factors that contribute to the measurement error.Aim. Experimental comparison of two NI types: an interference NI with a Koester prism and an autocollimating NI based on a quadrant photodiode.Materials and methods. An experimental setup was assembled, including two NI that could be connected to one goniometer and measure the accumulated angles of one optical polygon under the same conditions.Results. As a result of conducting measurements and performing a cross-calibration procedure, four sets of data were obtained. An analysis of the processed data showed that the difference in the errors of the ring laser when using two NI did not exceed 0.06 arc seconds, being within the margin of random error. At the same time, the difference between the deviations of the reflecting faces from the nominal position for the two faces exceeded this limit, which confirms the effect of deviation of the surface from the plane on angular measurements with different types of null indicators.Conclusion. According to the results obtained, from the random error point of view, the interference null indicator NI showed higher performance, demonstrating the RMS of measured values of 0.02 angular seconds when measured during 25 prism revolutions. At the same time, the autocollimating null indicator NI had an RMS at the level of 0.04 angular seconds when measured during 64 revolutions. Presumably, this may be caused by the installation specifics of NI. It should also be noted that there is no correlation between the statistical characteristics of the reflecting face itself and the difference between its deviations determined by different NI types

Экспериментальное сравнение интерференционного и автоколлимационного нуль-индикаторов

Introduction. At present, measurement of angles with high accuracy is an essential task in various scientific and industrial fields. The goniometer is one of the most widespread high-precision angle measuring devices, which can incorporate various types of null indicators. In turn, null indicators (NI) are based on different operating principles and can be sensitive to external factors that contribute to the measurement error.Aim. Experimental comparison of two NI types: an interference NI with a Koester prism and an autocollimating NI based on a quadrant photodiode.Materials and methods. An experimental setup was assembled, including two NI that could be connected to one goniometer and measure the accumulated angles of one optical polygon under the same conditions.Results. As a result of conducting measurements and performing a cross-calibration procedure, four sets of data were obtained. An analysis of the processed data showed that the difference in the errors of the ring laser when using two NI did not exceed 0.06 arc seconds, being within the margin of random error. At the same time, the difference between the deviations of the reflecting faces from the nominal position for the two faces exceeded this limit, which confirms the effect of deviation of the surface from the plane on angular measurements with different types of null indicators.Conclusion. According to the results obtained, from the random error point of view, the interference null indicator NI showed higher performance, demonstrating the RMS of measured values of 0.02 angular seconds when measured during 25 prism revolutions. At the same time, the autocollimating null indicator NI had an RMS at the level of 0.04 angular seconds when measured during 64 revolutions. Presumably, this may be caused by the installation specifics of NI. It should also be noted that there is no correlation between the statistical characteristics of the reflecting face itself and the difference between its deviations determined by different NI types.Введение. В настоящее время во многих научных и промышленных задачах требуется измерение углов с высокой точностью. Одним из самых распространенных высокоточных углоизмерительных приборов является гониометр, в составе которого могут применяться различные типы нуль-индикаторов (НИ). НИ, в свою очередь, имеют различные принципы работы и по-разному воспринимают некоторые факторы, способные вносить вклад в погрешность измерений.Цель работы. Экспериментальное сравнение двух типов НИ: интерференционного с призмой Кестерса и автоколлимационного на базе квадрантного фотодиода.Материалы и методы. Для достижения поставленной цели была собрана экспериментальная установка, включающая два НИ, которые могут подключаться к одному гониометру и измерять накопленные углы одной многогранной призмы в одинаковых условиях.Результаты. В результате измерений и проведенной процедуры кросс-калибровки были получены 4 набора данных. Анализ обработанных данных показал, что разница погрешностей кольцевого лазера при использовании двух НИ не превысила 0.06'', что находится в пределах случайной погрешности. В то же время, разница между отклонениями отражающих граней от номинального положения для двух граней этот предел превысила, что подтверждает влияние отклонения поверхности от плоскости на угловые измерения с разными типами НИ.Заключение. По результатам эксперимента с точки зрения случайной погрешности интерференционный НИ проявил себя лучше, продемонстрировав СКО измеренных значений 0.02'' при измерениях в ходе 25 оборотов призмы. В то же время автоколлимационный НИ имел СКО на уровне 0.04'' при измерениях в течение 64 оборотов. Предположительно это может быть связано с установкой НИ. Также необходимо отметить, что корреляция между статистическими характеристиками самой отражающей грани и разницей между ее отклонениями, определяемыми разными типами НИ, отсутствует

Determination of optical technology experiments for a satellite

Optical technology experiments for satellite - communications, acquisition, tracking, lasers, photometry, and atmospheric

Development and evaluation of the elastic recovery concept for expandable space structures

Elastic recovery of expandable space structure

Metrology-based Techniques for Optical System Alignment for the OSIRIS-Rx Visual and InfraRed Spectrometer

The alignment, integration, and test group (AI&T) in the optics branch at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) specializes in optical and opto-mechanical alignment and metrology for project ranging from building and testing instrument such as spectrometers and cameras to larger structures such as telescopes to large volume metrology and alignment at the observatory level for spacecraft payloads. One of the projects that involved the support of the AI&T group was the OSIRIS-Rex Visual and Infra-Red Spectrometer (OVIRS) for the Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-Rex) mission. The purpose of this report is to outline the tools, methods, and approaches to metrology utilized by the AI&T group and how they were applied specifically to the optical alignment of the elements on OVIRS during the ambient I&T phase

Applications technology satellite gravity gradient stabilization system Sixth quarterly progress report, 1 Oct. - 31 Dec. 1965

Systems analysis and integration, boom subsystem, combination passive damper, and attitude sensor system for Applications Technology Satellite gravity gradient stabilization syste

Large space telescope, phase A. Volume 3: Optical telescope assembly

The development and characteristics of the optical telescope assembly for the Large Space Telescope are discussed. The systems considerations are based on mission-related parameters and optical equipment requirements. Information is included on: (1) structural design and analysis, (2) thermal design, (3) stabilization and control, (4) alignment, focus, and figure control, (5) electronic subsystem, and (6) scientific instrument design