Agrawal, Jr., Brij N.

The objective of the project is to investigate application of adaptive optics technology to improve the performance of Overhead Persistent InfraRed (OPIR) sensors. In 2015, Adaptive Optics Center of Excellence for National Security (AOCoE) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) developed optical design concepts of a telescope with adaptive optics components such as a fast steering mirror (FSM) and a deformable mirror to improve optical performance against spacecraft jitter and wavefront aberrations due to defocus and thermal effects. The goal of the proposed work is to further identify the current capabilities of adaptive optics system technologies that are suitable for rapid refocusing of OPIR sensors, determine the technical readiness of adaptive optics technology, and determine suitable adaptive optics elements such as deformable mirrors, wavefront sensors, and control methods that are effective for refocusing of OPIR sensors. The proposed work will also address the use of a fast steering mirror for mitigation of optical jitter due to the spacecraft vibration, which is another major source of optical disturbances.
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Department of Defense Space
DoD
2017