Cosmic X-ray telescope for ARIES rocket observations
Abstract
A rocket-borne Wolter Type I X-ray telescope having a focal length of 2.3m, an entrance aperture of 66cm and a geometrical area of 380cm2 is nearing completion. The telescope mirrors are formed by diamond turning their figures into forged aluminum substrates of 5083 alloy. These diamond-turned substrates are subsequently plated with a thin coating of electroless nickel and polished to obtain the final X-ray reflecting surfaces. Details of the rocket payload, the X-ray telescope, its calculated response and the experience gained in selecting the mirror substrate alloy are discussed and the current status of the telescope is reviewed.
- Publication:
-
Space optics: Imaging X-ray optics workshop
- Pub Date:
- January 1979
- DOI:
- 10.1117/12.957431
- Bibcode:
- 1979SPIE..184...23C
- Keywords:
-
- Rocket-Borne Instruments;
- Spaceborne Telescopes;
- X Ray Telescopes;
- Aluminum;
- Angular Resolution;
- Cross Sections;
- Design Analysis;
- Mirrors;
- Payloads;
- Performance Tests;
- Astronomy