Browse Topic: Telescopes
Machining metal has its challenges as many shops will attest, but machining glass is another matter – one that Dan Bukaty Jr., President of Precision Glass & Optics (PG&O) is well schooled in. Mr. Bukaty and his 35-person shop manufacture high-end precision glass optics for customers such as IMAX, Intuitive Surgical, Boeing and NASA, to name a few. The products PG&O make can range from the ordinary to the extraterrestrial, such as mirrors that it fabricated for the Hobby–Eberly Telescope to measure dark energy in outer space.
When it launches no later than May 2027, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will serve as a powerful eye on deep space, capturing images of billions of distant galaxies and exploring the mysteries of dark matter, supernovae and other cosmic phenomena.
Have you ever gazed at the vastness of the stars and wondered what else your CNC machine can create? Greg Green had the opportunity to find out when he joined the staff at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) in Waimea, Hawaii.
A case study of an application of Shape optimization techniques in the design of a mass simulator has been presented. A simple mass Simulator is to be designed as a replacement for a Telescope Baffle Mass for testing purposes. The simulator is made of simple plate structures like flat plates and cylindrical plates joined together. The overall mass, location of center of gravity and first few modes of the simulator need to be close to the Telescope Baffle, it is replacing. This ensures that the Simulator is a good replacement for the Telescope Baffle both in statics and dynamics performance. Shape Optimization techniques using approximate direct linearization method of MSC/Nastran software have been used to fine-tune the baseline Simulator design to achieve target properties of mass, cg, frequencies, etc.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s stunning images showing previously unseen corners of the universe are possible because of the telescope’s 21-foot segmented mirror that had to unfurl on its own after launch and assemble itself in space.
It is hard to imagine an industry more reliant on seamless, resilient, and secure communication than aerospace and defense (A&D). Communication and electromagnetic signal processing are at the core of advanced systems, which is why the trend towards higher frequencies (and millimeter waves) makes optoelectronic signal transmission a critical topic in this sector as technology advances at a rapid pace and demands better performance. A&D communication networks use a mix of digital and analog transmission, with emphasis on the former, but given the industry's proclivity towards lower latency and higher bandwidth applications, analog transmission will play an even larger role in the future. Passive and active electromagnetic sensing (e.g., radar, radio telescopes, and other listening devices) requires high fidelity signal transport for “remote” processing. It brings transport of radio frequency signals over fiber (RFoF) to the forefront, which is an analog technique of converting radio
Incorporation of distinct telescopes into larger coordinated networks can enhance their discovery and follow-up capacity. However, challenges still remain in scaling, deploying, organizing, and scheduling such networks.
Space is vast and deep. Therefore, gathering information about transient astronomical events is like trying to find a black hole in a galaxy. To help researchers gather data on those phenomena, such as supernovae and exoplanet sightings, technologist Wayne Rosing founded the Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) in 2005. With its global headquarters in Goleta, California, LCO operates 25 automated telescopes at seven observatories, with locations in Hawaii, Texas, Chile, Spain, South Africa, Israel, China, and Australia.
Thermal control coatings, i.e. coatings with different visible versus infrared emission, have been used by NASA on the Orbiter and Hubble Telescope to reflect sunlight, while allowing heat rejection via infrared emission. However, these coatings absorb at least 6 percent of the Sun’s irradiant power, limiting the minimum temperature that can be reached to about 200 K. NASA needs better solar reflectors to keep cryogenic fuel and oxidizers cold enough to be maintained passively in deep space for future missions.
Astronomers and amateurs alike know the bigger the telescope, the more powerful the imaging capability. To keep the power but streamline one of the bulkier components, a Penn State-led research team created the first ultrathin, compact metalens telescope capable of imaging far-away objects, including the moon.
Operating beyond the visible light spectrum, forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras use a thermographic imager (camera) that senses infrared radiation, or heat signatures. Advanced FLIR thermal imaging systems capture and display infrared wavelengths that are radiating energy. Infrared thermography consists of three specific wavelengths, including short-wave infrared (SWIR), midwave infrared (MWIR), and long wavelength infrared (LWIR). MWIR imaging cameras have long been the preferred solution for clear thermal imaging at distances greater than one kilometer (km) for defense, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), counter-UAS, security, and other long-range surveillance applications. To meet these imaging requirements, advanced MWIR camera systems are commonly integrated with infrared telescopes that feature a continuous zoom (CZ) lens assembly. Developing custom cameras and CZ lenses can be costly in terms of time and resources, and it can become complicated.
At Bauma 2022 in Munich, Germany, Danfoss revealed that its electrified powertrain system was driving a new electric crawler crane, the Sany SCE800TB-EV. This will be Sany's first fully electric volume-model crawler crane and is available for batch order in the European market, where Danfoss states that there is increasing demand for zero-emission construction machines. The Sany SCE800TB-EV is an 80-ton telescopic crane with a maximum lifting moment of 300 ton-meters and a maximum boom length of 47 meters (155 ft). The electric system features a permanent-magnetic synchronous motor and an inverter supplied by Danfoss's Editron division as well as a Danfoss D1P hydraulic pump.
A gigantic furnace slowly started spinning underneath the stands of Arizona Stadium at the University of Arizona in March 2021. Fire-engine red, massive in size and resembling a sci-fi version of a Dutch oven, the furnace is the only one of its kind, and its sole purpose is to produce the world’s biggest and most advanced telescope mirrors.
Polished glass has been at the center of imaging systems for centuries. Their precise curvature enables lenses to focus light and produce sharp images, whether the object in view is a single cell, the page of a book, or a far-off galaxy. Changing focus to see clearly at all these scales typically requires physically moving a lens, by tilting, sliding, or otherwise shifting the lens. This is usually done with the help of mechanical parts that add to the bulk of microscopes and telescopes.
The James Webb Space Telescope’s first year in orbit featured a six-month calibration process, mirror-shattering micrometeoroid strike, and infrared imaging of one of the earliest galaxies ever captured, GLASS-z12, an estimated 350 million years after the universe began. The previous record for such an observation was 400 million years after the Big Bang for GN-z11, captured by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2016.
Several books and movies have been made depicting an asteroid or comet striking the Earth. There is a small chance of such an event, but if it happens, the results could be devastating, perhaps even causing a mass extinction event such as the one many believe killed off the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. It is potentially the largest preventable natural disaster. And that’s why the Winer Observatory in Arizona is working on planetary defense by tracking NEOs (Near Earth Objects). HEIDENHAIN donated encoders to assist in the positioning for their newest portable telescope project that will enable Winer to do just that.
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) continues to enable exciting scientific advances that help us better understand the universe. Case in point: Observations made with ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) revealed in 2020 that a star orbiting the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way moves just as predicted by Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. This long-sought-after result was made possible by high-precision measurements, in which PC-based control technology from Beckhoff played a key role.
The James Webb Space Telescope is set to show us some of the first stars in the universe, with its enormous and powerful mirrors capturing bits of light from more than 13 billion years ago. Meanwhile, technology developed as part of the decades-long effort to build Webb has already improved the vision of millions back on Earth by driving major improvements to LASIK eye surgery.
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has four infrared cameras to view the stars. One of the most critical components in the signal path that converts starlight infrared analog signals to digital signals, for subsequent image processing, is an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter. Three of the four IR cameras use arrays of A/D converters designed by a single individual, Dr. Lanny Lewyn. Those three cameras are the Near Infrared Camera (NIRCam), Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec), and the Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS). The A/D performance in the NIRCam is mission-critical, because the NIRCam is used to perform the precision alignment of the 18 primary mirror segments.
Space Dynamics Laboratory, Utah State University North Logan, UT 435-713-3400
It's been a landmark year for space exploration. The James Webb Space Telescope arrived at its destination orbiting the L2 Lagrange Point in January. In late April, an all-private team of astronauts visited the International Space Station for the first time. And later this year, NASA’s Artemis I program will send an uncrewed Orion spacecraft to orbit the Moon, in preparation for landing humans on the lunar surface within the next few years.
Northrop Grumman Falls Church, VA 215-675-4949
As NASA expands its quest to discover exoplanets — planets beyond our solar system — it also grows its toolbox. Over the summer, a new tool called NEID (pronounced NOO-id) delivered its first batch of data on the nearest and best-studied star, our Sun.
At 3 p.m. on March 5, a gigantic furnace slowly started spinning underneath the stands of Arizona Stadium at the University of Arizona. Fire-engine red, massive in size and resembling a sci-fi version of a Dutch oven, the furnace is the only one of its kind, and its sole purpose is to produce the world’s biggest and most advanced telescope mirrors.
With the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), mankind’s understanding of the universe — and its origins — will increase exponentially.
When it comes to long range multi-spectral optical systems, large mirrors play an integral role. Such optical systems are used for defense applications, surveillance and monitoring, as well as for certain commercial applications. For example, large mirrors may be integrated into the optical systems of aircraft like large UAVs. An interesting commercial application is the long-distance aerial monitoring of agricultural field temperature using infrared. The most commonly recognized applications for large mirrors are in the aerospace industry for satellites and telescopes.
Inspired by a concept for discovering exoplanets with a giant space telescope, a team of researchers is developing holographic lenses that render visible and infrared starlight into either a focused image or a spectrum. The experimental method could be used to create a lightweight flexible lens, many meters in diameter, that could be rolled for launch and unfurled in space.
Polished glass has been at the center of imaging systems for centuries. Their precise curvature enables lenses to focus light and produce sharp images, whether the object in view is a single cell, the page of a book, or a far-off galaxy. Changing focus to see clearly at all these scales typically requires physically moving a lens, by tilting, sliding, or otherwise shifting the lens. This is usually done with the help of mechanical parts that add to the bulk of microscopes and telescopes.
Mercury Systems Andover, MA
Superconductors — materials that conduct electricity without resistance — provide a macroscopic glimpse into quantum phenomena, which are usually observable only at the atomic level. Superconductors are found in medical imaging, quantum computers, and cameras used with telescopes. But often, they are expensive to manufacture and prone to error from environmental noise.
Two-stage overcenter valves create stability in machines with highly dynamic loads. A common challenge engineers face in the application of counterbalance or overcenter valves is machines with a high degree of load dynamics. Vehicles with slender booms, multiple booms, wear pads with varying frictional forces or pneumatic tires are all subject to higher levels of load dynamics. Concrete pumps are a common example as they require multiple long, slender booms to deliver concrete to the work site. Rough-terrain forklifts or telescopic handlers with pneumatic tires are other examples. In a telehandler, the long cylinder can act as a capacitor and store energy when fully extended. The pressure within the cylinder will rise to system pressure at the end of the stroke, and a counterbalance valve will reseat and lock system pressure in the cylinder irrespective of the load-induced pressure.
Innovators at NASA Johnson Space Center have developed a method for controlling precise motion of a brushless DC (BLDC) motor using relatively inexpensive components. Precision motors are usually quite expensive and inefficient when operating at slow speeds. Current motors are only capable of operating at approximately 15 rpm with a risk of excessive jitters. The new technology uses a method to control BLDC motors over a broad range of speeds, ranging from about 0.025 rpm to about 7000 rpm.
For six decades, NASA has led the peaceful exploration of space, making discoveries about our planet, our solar system, and our universe. At home, NASA research has made great advances in aviation, helped to develop a commercial space industry, enrich our economy, create jobs, and strengthen national security. Here is just some of what NASA has achieved in its first 60 years.
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