Separated Spacecraft Interferometry

Oliver Lay (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)

Abstract:

There are many advantages to space-based interferometry, but single spacecraft platforms set limits on the collecting area and baseline length. These constraints can be overcome by distributing the optical elements of the interferometer over a system of multiple spacecraft flying in precise formation. A number of formation flying missions have been proposed, including the Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF), DARWIN, the Submillimeter Probe of Early Cosmological Structure (SPECS) and the Micro-Arcsecond X-Ray Imaging Mission (MAXIM).

While the principles of interferometry are the same as for ground-based systems, formation flying interferometers must integrate a wide range of technologies to provide an optically stable platform capable of finding, tracking and measuring fringes. This talk will focus the differences between formation flying interferometers and ground-based systems, including formation configurations, formation flying algorithms, sensors and actuators, acquisition of starlight and fringes, and the importance of delay and delay rate estimation in determining the instrument sensitivity. A brief description of the future missions and their requirements will highlight the challenges that are being faced.

Viewgraphs PDF 512k Bytes.
Viewgraphs PowerPoint 1504k Bytes.
A note on the use of Summer School material.