Abstract
The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is an unmanned optical observatory launched into its Earth orbit by the Space Shuttle in April 1990. It represents the most important enterprise in the history of space-based astronomy. On board the HST are five scientific instruments, including an advanced electronic faint object camera (FOC) from Europe as one of ESA's contributions to the HST. The FOC comprises two complete and independent camera systems with a sensitivity encompassing the wavelength range from far-ultraviolet to the red. Their basic performance is augmented by 58 different optical filters and polarizers, as well as a coronograph and a spectrograph. One of its camera systems operates with a focal ratio of F 48 , the other at F 96 . In the F 96 camera section a further enhancement of the resolution can be achieved by inserting a small Cassegrain telescope assembly into the optical path, which provides an F 288 high resolution mode. Thus the FOC will fully exploit the highest spatial resolution which the HST can deliver due to its incredible pointing stability of 0.007 arc sec. Even with the current reduced performance of the HST optical system, the FOC scientists are able to observe and analyse celestial objects in the u.v. light range much fainter than ever seen, with a resolution much sharper than with any other instrument before. After the integration of the FOC into the HST at Lockheed, Dornier was supporting the NASA Space Telescope Operation Control Center as well as the Space Telescope Science Institute for development and verification of the ground software for launch, operation and maintenance. This support was provided within ESA's “FOC Post Delivery Support” contract, which also includes the Orbital and Science Verification of the FOC after launch.
Published Version
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