Title :
Space Interferometry Mission: measuring the Universe
Author :
Marr, James ; Dallas, Saterios ; Laskin, Robert ; Unwin, Stephen ; Yu, Jeffrey
Author_Institution :
Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Technol., Pasadena, CA, USA
Abstract :
The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) will be the NASA Origins Program´s first space based long baseline interferometric observatory. SIM will use a 10 m Michelson stellar interferometer to provide 4 μas precision absolute position measurements of stars down to 20th magnitude over its 5 yr. mission lifetime. SIM will also provide technology demonstrations of synthesis imaging and interferometric nulling. This paper describes the what, why and how of the SIM mission, including an overall mission and system description, science objectives, general description of how SIM makes its measurements, description of the design concepts now under consideration, operations concept, and supporting technology program
Keywords :
Fourier transform optics; Michelson interferometers; astrometry; astronomical techniques; astronomical telescopes; light interferometry; measurement by laser beam; 10 m; Earth-trailing solar orbit; Michelson stellar interferometer; Son-of-SIM design; Space Interferometry Mission; Universe measurement; absolute position measurements; achromatic nulling; design concepts; interferometric nulling; laser metrology beams; long baseline interferometric observatory; operations concept; precision astrometry; precision star tracker; science objectives; supporting technology program; synthesis imaging; technology demonstrations; Aerospace electronics; Extraterrestrial measurements; Instruments; NASA; Optical interferometry; Position measurement; Propulsion; Space missions; Space technology; Space vehicles;
Conference_Titel :
Instrumentation and Measurement Technology Conference, 1999. IMTC/99. Proceedings of the 16th IEEE
Conference_Location :
Venice
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-5276-9
DOI :
10.1109/IMTC.1999.777031
