Automatic control of the surface shape of large space radiotelescopes
Abstract
Maintaining the shape of the reflecting surface of large space radiotelescopes through controlled interaction of the surface elements is discussed. Two types of surface structure are considered, one employing hexagonal elements, the other using a square lattice. Vector analyses based on the number of element intersections and the degrees of freedom of the structure and its components are taken into account in specifying conditions under which the modification of the shape of the structure does not result in static elastic deformations. The analyses are also applied to ensuring that small manufacturing defects do not interfere with the overall stability of the radiotelescope surface structure.
- Publication:
-
Prague International Astronautical Federation Congress
- Pub Date:
- September 1977
- Bibcode:
- 1977prag.iafcR....B
- Keywords:
-
- Automatic Control;
- Hubble Space Telescope;
- Radio Telescopes;
- Variable Geometry Structures;
- Degrees Of Freedom;
- Elastic Deformation;
- Matrices (Mathematics);
- Self Alignment;
- Shapes;
- Steerable Antennas;
- Tolerances (Mechanics);
- Vector Analysis;
- Astronomy