Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!uflorida!ufqtp!bernhold
From: bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu (David E. Bernholdt)
Newsgroups: sci.space.shuttle
Subject: HST mirror distortion
Message-ID: <1062@orange19.qtp.ufl.edu>
Date: 29 Jun 90 01:37:43 GMT
Reply-To: bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu (David E. Bernholdt)
Organization: University of Florida Quantum Theory Project
Lines: 24


This is something I have been wondering about since the HST went up,
and it seems particularly appropriate to ask it now...

During the boost into orbit, the shuttle and presumably its contents
(human and mechanical) endure a fair bit of jostling.  Can anybody
address the (possible) effects of the ascent on something so large and
high precision as the HST mirrors?  Are there special mountings
(substantially different from those ground-based mirrors) on the HST
mirror to prevent problems?  Or perhaps in mounting the entire HST
inside the cargo bay?

The NPR report this evening had an interview with a master telescope
builder of an instrument installed in Chile by a European consortium
(neither the site nor the group were specifically named).  Apparently
their mirror suffered similar troubles, but the design included force
actuators, which they used to tweak the mirror into focus.  Obviously,
HST either doesn't include such hardware, or the abberation is beyond
the capability of the system.  Can anyone say which?
-- 
David Bernholdt			bernhold@qtp.ufl.edu
Quantum Theory Project		bernhold@ufpine.bitnet
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL  32611		904/392 6365