A large reflector inflatable telescope. The telescope has an inflatable hull with a conical lower portion and a hemispherical upper portion. The conical portion is transparent to electromagnetic waves so that radio or light waves can reach an inner reflector, which is interposed between the conical portion and the hemispherical portion. The presence of the inner reflector allows the conical portion and the hemispherical portion to be inflated at different pressures such that the reflector becomes spherical or parabolic. If desired, the reflector can be made adjustable with a membrane behind the reflector that provides electro-static force to shape the reflector.

An optical system comprising a segmented optical element comprising a plurality of segments disposed adjacent each other to define a pupil, wherein one or more of the plurality of segments comprises a pair of curved edges, wherein the segmented optical element is arranged such that a curved gap is defined between adjacent segments.

Provided is a device for designed for use with a telescope having a primary mirror, such as a reflecting telescope, and to accurately analyzing the size of a step between paired regions of a plurality of mirror segments of the primary mirror. The device designed for use with a telescope whose primary mirror is composed of a plurality of mirror segments, and to analyze the size of a step between paired regions of the plurality of mirror segments comprises: a mask disposed in an optical axis of the primary mirror orthogonally to the optical axis at a given position where a plurality of mirror segment images as respective projected images of the plurality of mirror segments do not overlap each other, wherein a plurality of pairs of primary slits is formed at respective positions in the mirror segment images, wherein each of the primary slits are adjacent to a boundary between the paired regions of the mirror segment images and opposed and parallel to each other with a given spacing therebetween, and wherein at least one reference slit is arranged with respect to each of pairs of the primary slits in the mask, such that it extends at a given angle which is not parallel to each of the pairs of primary slits.

Provided is a device for designed for use with a telescope having a primary mirror, such as a reflecting telescope, and to accurately analyzing the size of a step between paired regions of a plurality of mirror segments of the primary mirror. The device designed for use with a telescope whose primary mirror is composed of a plurality of mirror segments, and to analyze the size of a step between paired regions of the plurality of mirror segments comprises: a mask disposed in an optical axis of the primary mirror orthogonally to the optical axis at a given position where a plurality of mirror segment images as respective projected images of the plurality of mirror segments do not overlap each other, wherein a plurality of pairs of primary slits is formed at respective positions in the mirror segment images, wherein each of the primary slits are adjacent to a boundary between the paired regions of the mirror segment images and opposed and parallel to each other with a given spacing therebetween, and wherein at least one reference slit is arranged with respect to each of pairs of the primary slits in the mask, such that it extends at a given angle which is not parallel to each of the pairs of primary slits.

A microlithographic arrangement, for example using light in the extreme UV range, includes a supporting structure for supporting an optical unit, the mass of which can be 4 t to 14 t. The supporting structure includes a number of separate supporting units for supporting the optical unit. Each of the supporting units includes an air bearing unit by way of which a supporting force which counteracts the weight of the optical unit can be generated. The number of supporting units is at least four, at least two of the supporting units being coupled via a coupling device to form a supporting unit pair in such a way that the coupling device counteracts a deviation from a predeterminable ratio of the supporting forces of the two supporting units of the supporting unit pair.

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 supporting and handling system for optical devices, in particular telescopes, radio-telescopes or sun concentrators, and instrumentation, is described, comprising: a primary unit; an independent secondary unit; first motored means for moving the primary unit; second motored means for moving the secondary unit; an arc-shaped structure equipped with sliding guides in altitude with respect to the ground for the rotation of the secondary unit with respect to an altitude rotation axis; a hexapod system to move the primary unit; and a control system.

A supporting and handling system for optical devices, in particular telescopes, radio-telescopes or sun concentrators, and instrumentation, is described, comprising: a primary unit; an independent secondary unit; first motored means for moving the primary unit; second motored means for moving the secondary unit; an arc-shaped structure equipped with sliding guides in altitude with respect to the ground for the rotation of the secondary unit with respect to an altitude rotation axis; a hexapod system to move the primary unit; and a control system.

A solar trough frame for holding solar mirrors includes a plurality of chords. The frame includes a plurality of extruded profiles, including chords, chord sleeves, struts, strut end pieces and mirror support pieces, each chord sleeve having at least one chord sleeve fin, each chord sleeve positioned about one of the chords. The frame includes a plurality of struts, at least one of the struts having a strut end piece having at least one strut fin that connects with a chord sleeve fin to connect the plurality of chords. The frame includes a platform supported by the chords and struts on which the solar mirrors are disposed. A chord sleeve for connecting a chord of a solar frame which supports solar mirrors to a strut end piece extending from a strut of the solar frame. A strut end piece for connecting the strut of a solar frame which supports solar mirrors to a chord sleeve of the solar frame. A method for linking a strut of a solar frame which supports solar mirrors to a chord of the solar frame. A method for supporting solar mirrors.