An exemplary support structure for a planar faceplate includes ribs extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the planar faceplate. Spaced apart projections extend from the ribs towards the bottom surface of the planar faceplate and have distal ends that engage and are secured to the bottom surface. Each distal end defines an area with a numerical value that is less than the thickness of the planar faceplate measured in the same measurement units as the area to limit any stress formations induced in the planar faceplate due to thermal changes from reaching a top surface of the planar faceplate. Alternatively, the projections may be spaced apart mesas extending outward from a rigid material.

An exemplary support structure for a planar faceplate includes ribs extending substantially perpendicular to a bottom surface of the planar faceplate. Spaced apart projections extend from the ribs towards the bottom surface of the planar faceplate and have distal ends that engage and are secured to the bottom surface. Each distal end defines an area with a numerical value that is less than the thickness of the planar faceplate measured in the same measurement units as the area to limit any stress formations induced in the planar faceplate due to thermal changes from reaching a top surface of the planar faceplate. Alternatively, the projections may be spaced apart mesas extending outward from a rigid material.

Disclosed is a novel assembly and method that enables a user to collimate a focused Cassegrain telescope. The assembly, having a secondary mirror and support baffle, comprising an axle, a bearing, and hub, enables a user to precisely rotate or freely spin a Cassegrain telescope's secondary mirror about its optical axis. Incident to freely spinning the telescope's secondary mirror, the user may peer into the telescope's eyepiece and observe a focused image that may wobble, or remain stable, dependent upon how well the telescope's mirrors are aligned. Further, the assembly's eyepiece, comprising a reticle design, enables the observer to measure the magnitude and direction of image shift incident to the secondary mirror spinning. Lastly, the assembly, comprising a radially marked collimating faceplate, and radially marked collimating knob screws, enables a user to make specific adjustments to the telescope's secondary mirror, compensating for the observed image shift, precisely collimating the telescope.

Disclosed is a novel assembly and method that enables a user to collimate a focused Cassegrain telescope. The assembly, having a secondary mirror and support baffle, comprising an axle, a bearing, and hub, enables a user to precisely rotate or freely spin a Cassegrain telescope's secondary mirror about its optical axis. Incident to freely spinning the telescope's secondary mirror, the user may peer into the telescope's eyepiece and observe a focused image that may wobble, or remain stable, dependent upon how well the telescope's mirrors are aligned. Further, the assembly's eyepiece, comprising a reticle design, enables the observer to measure the magnitude and direction of image shift incident to the secondary mirror spinning. Lastly, the assembly, comprising a radially marked collimating faceplate, and radially marked collimating knob screws, enables a user to make specific adjustments to the telescope's secondary mirror, compensating for the observed image shift, precisely collimating the telescope.

A honeycomb sandwich panel having an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient smaller than an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient obtained by using carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is provided. The honeycomb sandwich panel includes: a first skin being a plate material made of a low expansion metal being a metal having an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient smaller than an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient of CFRP; a second skin being a plate material made of the low expansion metal and arranged to face the first skin; and a core made of CFRP or the low expansion metal, being bonded to the first skin and the second skin and including a plurality of tubular cells each having a hexagonal cross section, the tubular cells being formed adjacently to each other.

A honeycomb sandwich panel having an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient smaller than an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient obtained by using carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is provided. The honeycomb sandwich panel includes: a first skin being a plate material made of a low expansion metal being a metal having an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient smaller than an absolute value of thermal expansion coefficient of CFRP; a second skin being a plate material made of the low expansion metal and arranged to face the first skin; and a core made of CFRP or the low expansion metal, being bonded to the first skin and the second skin and including a plurality of tubular cells each having a hexagonal cross section, the tubular cells being formed adjacently to each other.

A scalable parabolic or disc shaped mirror, that is formed and maintained by inflating, with air or inert gas, a rigid polymer membrane envelope, that is pre-formed, and such that when inflated, forms this parabolic or disc shape, governed by a center supporting pole, and ring around circumference of the mirror. The top half of the ballooned envelope is made of a clear transparent membrane through which the sun's rays pass through and on to the lower inner lower surface, which is coated with reflective surface. The balloon is skewered through the middle of each membrane, and clamped with flanges to hermetically seal the envelope. The pole or center structure is anchored and hinged at the base so the Pneumatic Mirror can be articulated to face towards the sun, thus focussing the energy to whatever device is at the focal point.

A satellite imaging system includes a camera with a pixel shifting mechanism, thermally stable imaging payload, and high-stability attitude determination and control system (ADCS) to improve image resolution. To address the overall stabilization requirement, the satellite incorporates a number of design elements that, in combination, provide the stable result required for good imaging.

A satellite imaging system includes a camera with a pixel shifting mechanism, thermally stable imaging payload, and high-stability attitude determination and control system (ADCS) to improve image resolution. To address the overall stabilization requirement, the satellite incorporates a number of design elements that, in combination, provide the stable result required for good imaging.

A method for manufacturing a mirror blank comprises: providing a primary piece of glass comprising a primary planar surface and a backing piece of glass comprising a backing planar surface; assembling a mirror blank assembly, wherein assembling the mirror blank assembly comprises interposing a plurality of glass splines between the primary glass and the backing glass. Interposing the plurality of glass splines comprises: for each glass spline, respectively abutting first and second opposed surfaces of the glass spline against the primary planar surface of the primary glass and against the backing planar surface of the backing glass. The mirror blank assembly is then heated to fuse the interposed glass splines to the primary glass and the backing glass while the primary glass and the secondary glass remain spaced apart from one another by the interposed glass splines to thereby provide the mirror blank.