CaltechAUTHORS
Published October 2012 | Version Submitted
Journal Article Open

Space-quality data from balloon-borne telescopes: the High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO)

Creators

Abstract

We present a method for attaining sub-arcsecond pointing stability during sub-orbital balloon flights, as designed for in the High Altitude Lensing Observatory (HALO) concept. The pointing method presented here has the potential to perform near-space quality optical astronomical imaging at ~1–2% of the cost of space-based missions. We also discuss an architecture that can achieve sufficient thermo-mechanical stability to match the pointing stability. This concept is motivated by advances in the development and testing of Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) flights which promise to allow observation campaigns lasting more than three months. The design incorporates a multi-stage pointing architecture comprising: a gondola coarse azimuth control system, a multi-axis nested gimbal frame structure with arcsecond stability, a telescope de-rotator to eliminate field rotation, and a fine guidance stage consisting of both a telescope mounted angular rate sensor and guide CCDs in the focal plane to drive a Fast-Steering Mirror. We discuss the results of pointing tests together with a preliminary thermo-mechanical analysis required for subarcsecond pointing at high altitude. Possible future applications in the areas of wide-field surveys and exoplanet searches are also discussed.

Additional Information

© 2012 Elsevier BV. Received 13 March 2012; Received in revised form 24 April 2012; Accepted 7 May 2012; Available online 2 June 2012. The authors thank to Joan Ervin, Roger Lee, Tanaz Mozafari, Barth Netterfield, Wes Traub, Chris Stoughton and David Pierce for work and discussions relating to the HALO concept. RJM acknowledges financial support through STFC Advanced Fellowship PP/E006450/1. The work of JR, BMD, JB, KL, PB, EJ, JA and CP was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). EJ acknowledges the support of ORAU under contract with NASA.

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Additional details

Identifiers

Eprint ID
35939
DOI
10.1016/j.astropartphys.2012.05.015
Resolver ID
CaltechAUTHORS:20121212-100123634

Related works

Describes
10.1016/j.astropartphys.2012.05.015 (DOI)
https://arxiv.org/abs/1205.2957 (URL)

Funding

Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
PP/E006450/1
NASA/JPL/Caltech

Dates

Created
2012-12-12
Created from EPrint's datestamp field
Updated
2021-11-09
Created from EPrint's last_modified field

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Caltech groups
GALCIT, Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)