Active Pointing Monitor for a 2-Axis Optical Control System

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center has developed a pointing measurement detection and control system that monitors the real-time optical axis motions (such as tip and tilt) that affect image quality in aerial platforms. To date, there is no known real-time optical image alignment and control system available that simultaneously accommodates the combined focal plane functions of science image collection and image stabilization control. Current monitoring techniques involve replicating the science image focal plane and a separate pointing monitor system that directly compete for the exact same focal plane real estate, thus making it a one-or-the-other measurement.