Beam control of extremely agile relaying laser source for bifocal relay mirror spacecraft
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Authors
Johnson, Scott L.
Subjects
Advisors
Agrawal, Brij
Date of Issue
2006-09
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The concept of controlling optical laser beams on spacecraft for acquisition, tracking and pointing purposes is quickly becoming a reality. As a result, fine pointing of laser beams is turn out to be an increasingly important research topic. A unique testbed was constructed in order to study and develop new methods for laser beam control. This testbed, the Moving Target-Source Test Fixture (MTSTF), hosts a laser source, the Extremely Agile Relaying Laser Source (EARLS), which has the capability of automatically acquiring and directing a laser beam onto a satellite simulator while in motion. The purpose of this thesis is to make the EARLS platform operational by developing a tracking control system. The ultimate goal is to point the laser beam at the satellite simulatorâ s receiving telescope and maintain the laser within the telescopeâ s limits in the presence of structural disturbance induced by the EARLS motion.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering (MAE)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xiv, 91 p. : col. ill. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.