Abstract

We report on design, manufacture, and testing of a Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT), the first of its kind and a part of Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory-pathfinder (UFFO-p) for space-based prompt measurement of early UV/optical light curves from Gamma-Ray Bursts (GRBs). Using a fast slewing mirror of 150 mm diameter mounted on a 2 axis gimbal stage, SMT can deliver the images of GRB optical counterparts to the intensified CCD detector within 1.5~1.8 s over ± 35 degrees in the slewing field of view. Its Ritchey-Chrétien telescope of 100 mm diameter provides a 17 × 17 arcmin² instantaneous field of view. Technical details of design, construction, the laboratory performance tests in space environments for this unique SMT are described in conjunction with the plan for in-orbit operation onboard the Lomonosov satellite in 2013.

Highlights

  • Several studies have improved our understanding of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) physics [1,2,3,4]

  • Fig. 3. 2D ray tracing of RC telescope and the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) performance

  • To enable for the first time systematic exploration of UV/optical GRB light curves earlier than 60 s after the gamma ray trigger, the Ultra-Fast Flash Observatory (UFFO) missions have been proposed by utilizing a novel Slewing Mirror Telescope (SMT) concept with a fast slewing mirror

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Summary

Introduction

Several studies have improved our understanding of Gamma-Ray Burst (GRB) physics [1,2,3,4]. Due to the inherent slow response time for slewing the whole satellite and/or ground telescopes, only a few early UV/optical light curve measurements are available to the world wide academic communities as of today [9,10] Fig. 3. 2D ray tracing of RC telescope (left) and the MTF performance (right)

Opto-mechanical structures of RC telescope
Fabrication and integration of RC telescope
Static load test in laboratory
Slewing mirror design
Slewing mirror stage design
Fabrication and assembly of slewing mirror system
Space environment tests
Performance of SMT optics before and after space environment test
System validation test of SMT optics
Findings
Discussion
Conclusion

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