A retrofittable subassembly that enhances the operational availability of a terrestrial optical surveillance system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the subassembly comprises a diffusely reflective and insulating external cover, a highly uniform plate-glass cover, an wide angle FOV camera and a passive thermal control system.

A method for acquiring an image of a celestial body, including: using an apparatus including a hollow body into which light rays originating from the observed celestial body penetrate, arranging, in the hollow body, an optical system having an optical axis, the optical system configured so that the light rays form, in an image focal region, an image of the observed celestial body, arranging in the hollow body at least first and second matrix arrays of optical sensors configured to acquire the image of the celestial body formed in the image focal region, where the matrix arrays are of different designs suitable for observing celestial bodies of different natures, selecting one of the matrix arrays and placing it in the image focal region, the other matrix array remaining outside of the image focal region, the matrix array being selected depending on the nature of the observed celestial body.

A method for acquiring an image of a celestial body, including: using an apparatus including a hollow body into which light rays originating from the observed celestial body penetrate, arranging, in the hollow body, an optical system having an optical axis, the optical system configured so that the light rays form, in an image focal region, an image of the observed celestial body, arranging in the hollow body at least first and second matrix arrays of optical sensors configured to acquire the image of the celestial body formed in the image focal region, where the matrix arrays are of different designs suitable for observing celestial bodies of different natures, selecting one of the matrix arrays and placing it in the image focal region, the other matrix array remaining outside of the image focal region, the matrix array being selected depending on the nature of the observed celestial body.

A reflector array includes a support structure, a motor, a shaft operatively coupled to the motor, a free plate, and a drive plate. The free plate includes a free plate first side and a free plate second side axially opposed to the free plate first side. The free plate further may include a latching mechanism disposed on the free plate second side and a drive plate. The drive plate is rotatably coupled to the shaft. The drive plate includes a drive plate first side and a drive plate second side axially opposed to the drive plate first side. The drive plate further includes a drive plate finger coupled to the drive plate second side. The drive plate finger is configured to contact the latching mechanism in response to rotation of the driver plate. The drive plate finger is further configured to couple the drive plate to the free plate.

A reflector array includes a support structure, a motor, a shaft operatively coupled to the motor, a free plate, and a drive plate. The free plate includes a free plate first side and a free plate second side axially opposed to the free plate first side. The free plate further may include a latching mechanism disposed on the free plate second side and a drive plate. The drive plate is rotatably coupled to the shaft. The drive plate includes a drive plate first side and a drive plate second side axially opposed to the drive plate first side. The drive plate further includes a drive plate finger coupled to the drive plate second side. The drive plate finger is configured to contact the latching mechanism in response to rotation of the driver plate. The drive plate finger is further configured to couple the drive plate to the free plate.

A system for fastening a mirror to a support is disclosed including intermediate structures, for example bipod structures. At least some of the intermediate structures are provided with torsion devices making it possible to at least partially compensate for optical aberrations of an instrument that includes the mirror. Each torsion device may comprise an elastic element and a variator. The variator is designed to control a deformation of the elastic element, resulting in a torque which is applied to the mirror.

A system for fastening a mirror to a support is disclosed including intermediate structures, for example bipod structures. At least some of the intermediate structures are provided with torsion devices making it possible to at least partially compensate for optical aberrations of an instrument that includes the mirror. Each torsion device may comprise an elastic element and a variator. The variator is designed to control a deformation of the elastic element, resulting in a torque which is applied to the mirror.

Disclosed are monolithic optical systems using an aerogel molded around a mandrel. A method of manufacturing an optical system includes applying a reflective coating to at least a portion of a surface of a mandrel, placing the mandrel in a tank and subsequently filling the tank with aerogel to a predetermined depth below a top of the mandrel. The method includes adding a separation layer to the tank on top of the aerogel at the predetermined depth, catalyzing the separation layer into a solid, and adding aerogel on top of the separation layer filling the tank with aerogel above a height of the mandrel, and removing the aerogel and mandrel from the tank, drying the aerogel into a solid aerogel structure, catalyzing the reflective coating to bond the reflective coating with the aerogel, and removing the mandrel from the aerogel structure to produce the aerogel structure having a hollowed-out interior.

A versatile space telescope for quantum key distribution and adapted for interfacing with a spacecraft and an instrument module. The telescope includes diamond turned aluminum mirrors at its entrance and exit, adjacent the spacecraft and instrument module, respectively.

A versatile space telescope for quantum key distribution and adapted for interfacing with a spacecraft and an instrument module. The telescope includes diamond turned aluminum mirrors at its entrance and exit, adjacent the spacecraft and instrument module, respectively.