PLATO flight model cameras TVAC focus calibration
International Conference on Space Optics (ICSO), pp. 8
Abstract
The PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars (PLATO) mission aims at detecting and characterizing extrasolar planetary systems, including terrestrial exoplanets orbiting up to the habitable zone around bright solar-type stars1.2 The scientific payload of PLATO, developed and provided by the PLATO Mission Consortium (PMC) and ESA, is based on a multi-telescope configuration consisting of 24 Normal Cameras (N-CAM) and 2 Fast Cameras (F-CAM), so as to provide simultaneously a large field of view and a large collecting aperture. Each individual camera can be thermally re-focused in order to compensate for the accumulated integration errors between the Telescope Optical Unit (TOU) and the Focal Plane Assembly (FPA). It allows to operate each camera in-orbit at its optimum setpoint, minimizing the average PSF size of the stars on the focal plane. To achieve this, the camera itself is cold-biased on the spacecraft and its temperature is controlled by a Thermal Control System (TCS) that allows to reach a commanded stable temperature within the range [-90°C ; -70°C]. This work presents the preparation and results of the on-ground pre-launch calibration campaign of the cameras Flight Models (FM), scanning the complete temperature range and searching for the best focus temperature. A set of statistical data is presented, based on the assembly and testing of the first flight model cameras, confirming their high-quality and validating the processes defined for the serial production.
Authors 34
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research Leiden (Netherlands)
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)
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Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research (Netherlands)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
Affiliation as printed
Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale
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Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale (France)
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (Spain)
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
Affiliation as printed
Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (Spain)
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (Spain)
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (Spain)
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (Spain)
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial
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Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aerospacial (Spain)
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Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania
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INAF - Osservatorio Astrofisico di Catania (Italy)
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Brera Astronomical Observatory
Affiliation as printed
INAF - Osservatorio Astronomico di Brera (Italy)
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Affiliation as printed
CISAS G Colombo, Univ. degli Studi di Padova (Italy)
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Affiliation as printed
KU Leuven (Belgium)
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Affiliation as printed
KU Leuven (Belgium)
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Affiliation as printed
KU Leuven (Belgium)
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
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Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR) · Space Research Organisation Netherlands
Affiliation as printed
German Aerospace Ctr. (Germany)
SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research Leiden (Netherlands)
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