The purpose of this paper is to present the development of a new dual axis (tip-tilt) mechanism, with integrated SiC mirror, designed for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and integrated inside their Deep Space Optical Communication (DSOC) module of incoming Psyche mission to be launched in 2022. This paper presents the design, assembly and tests of the Engineering (EM), Qualified (QM) and Flight (FM) models. Regarding the design phase, an emphasis is put on the mirror design and computations to ensure that the required flatness would be maintained after the integration and the part would withstand the thermal/mechanical environment. The optical measurement performed after assembly is also presented. The qualification results for a new alpha-case removal process for titanium parts are presented. Test results are especially interesting regarding the temperature behavior of the mechanism, and impact on the stroke and strain gage sensors’ feedback.
Piezoelectric actuators find their first applications in active space optics. The purpose of this paper is to describe the state of the art and some applications.
Piezo actuators display attractive features for space applications, such as precise positioning, unlubricated, non magnetic and compact features, and low power consumption. However, piezo mechanisms cannot be considered separately from their driving and control electronic. Piezo actuators, such as Amplified Piezo Actuators or Parallel Pre-stressed Actuators, initially designed under CNES contracts, shall find their first space flight applications in optics on the PHARAO Laser bench:
• fine pointing of the laser beams,
• laser cavity tuning.
Breadboard mechanisms based on piezo actuators have also been tested for refocusing purposes.
Other applications includes the improvement of the CCD resolution through an oversampling technique, such as in the SOHO/LASCO instrument, fast optical shutter operation, optical filter in combination with a Fabry - Perot interferometer, such as in future LIDAR for earth observation. The first applications shall be described and an overview of the future potential applications shall be given.
In Space & Defence (as well as in many others fields), there is a trend for miniaturisation in active optics requiring new actuators. Applications also often require the ability to withstand high vibrations and shocks levels, as well as vacuum compatibility for space applications. A new generation of small and smart actuators such as piezoelectric (piezo) actuators, are resolving this trend, thanks to their capacity to offer high energy density and to support both extreme and various requirements. This paper first presents the BSM mechanism and its requirements, the technologies involved in the design and the validation campaign results. Secondly, a derived XY piezoelectric positioning stage based on the same APA® and associated Strain Gage sensing technology is presented with its associated performances. Finally, a new piezoelectric motor based on the APA® technology, which allows the combination of long stroke while maintaining high resolution positioning of optical elements, is presented with experimental performances.
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