Space-quality data from balloon-borne telescopes: the High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO)
Abstract
We present a method for attaining sub-arcsecond pointing stability during sub- orbital balloon flights, as designed for in the High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO) concept. The pointing method presented here has the potential to perform near-space quality optical astronomical imaging at 1-2% of the cost of space-based missions. We also discuss an architecture that can achieve sufficient thermomechanical stability to match the pointing stability. This concept is motivated by advances in the development and testing of Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) flights which promise to allow observation campaigns lasting more than three months. The design incorporates a multi-stage pointing architecture comprising: a gondola coarse azimuth control system, a multi-axis nested gimbal frame structure with arcsecond stability, a telescope de-rotator to eliminate field rotation, and a fine guidance stage consisting of both a telescope mounted angular rate sensor and guide CCDs in the focal plane to drive a fast-steering mirror. We discuss the results of pointing tests together with a preliminary thermo-mechanical analysis required for sub-arcsecond pointing at high altitude. Possible future applications in the areas of wide-field surveys and exoplanet searches are also discussed.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1205.2957,
title = {Space-quality data from balloon-borne telescopes: the High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO)},
author = {Jason Rhodes and Benjamin Dobke and Jeffrey Booth and Richard Massey and Kurt Liewer and Roger Smith and Adam Amara and Jack Aldrich and Joel Berge and Naidu Bezawada and Paul Brugarolas and Paul Clark and Cornelis M. Dubbeldam and Richard Ellis and Carlos Frenk and Angus Gallie and Alan Heavens and David Henry and Eric Jullo and Thomas Kitching and James Lanzi and Simon Lilly and David Lunney and Satoshi Miyazaki and David Morris and Christopher Paine and John Peacock and Sergio Pellegrino and Roger Pittock and Peter Pool and Alexandre Refregier and Michael Seiffert and Ray Sharples and Alexandra Smith and David Stuchlik and Andy Taylor and Harry Teplitz and R. Ali Vanderveld and James Wu},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1205.2957},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
26 pages and 7 figures; to appear in Astroparticle Physics