Patent ID: 6278100
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: G01C,G01S,G02B

Abstract:
A remote sensing system for viewing a celestial body, comprising:(i) a spacecraft for orbiting the celestial body; and(ii) an optical system on the spacecraft, the optical system including:(a) a primary mirror for receiving incoming radiation;(b) a secondary mirror in optical communication with the primary mirror and for receiving radiation reflected by the primary mirror;(c) a deformable mirror in optical communication with the secondary mirror for receiving radiation reflected by the secondary mirror;(d) a plurality of actuators engaging the deformable mirror for forming a surface of the deformable mirror surface into a plurality of differing shapes;(e) a wavefront sensor in optical communication with at least one of the primary, secondary, and deformable mirrors for measuring a wavefront of radiation reflected by the at least one of the primary, secondary, and deformable mirrors; and(f) a controller for receiving a signal indicative of the wavefront measurement, generating a control signal to alter the shape of the deformable mirror, and for forwarding the control signal to each of the plurality of actuators to form the deformable mirror into one of the plurality of differing shapes.