The JWST backplane stability test article: a critical technology demonstration

Arenberg, Jonathan W.; Gilman, Larry; Abbruzze, Nick; Reuter, Justin; Anderson, Kristen G.; Jahic, Jas; Yacoub, Joseph; Padilla, Hector; Atkinson, Charles B.; Moon, Dave; Patton, Kevin; May, Patty; York, Jim; Messer, Ted; Backovsky, Stan; Tucker, Jim; Harvey, Chris J.; Bluth, Marcel; Eegholm, Bente; Zukowski, Barbara; Saif, Babak; Keski-Kuha, Ritva; Blake, P.; Kegley, Jeff; Russell, Kevin

doi:10.1117/12.671714

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…The details and results of the BSTA test have been reported previously. 6 Flight backplane stability testing for the AOS-ISIM interface stability was within the model prediction uncertainty and met requirements. Ground support equipment (GSE) and metrology system performance had to be equally or more stable than the article in test and required an engineered metrology support bench and optical metrology system.…”

Section: Modeling and Technologymentioning

confidence: 85%

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James Webb Space Telescope optical stability lessons learned for future great observatories

Feinberg,

McElwain,

Bowers

et al. 2023

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

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The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) launched on December 25, 2021, and its optical performance in orbit has been even better than predicted pre-flight. The static wavefront error (WFE) is less than half the value specified for the requirement of having diffraction-limited image quality at 2 microns in the NIRCam shortwave channel, enabling the observatory to deliver both sharper images and higher sensitivity than anticipated. In addition to the excellent image quality, the optical stability has also exceeded expectations, both in terms of high-frequency dynamic contributions (which would be perceived as part of "static WFE") and in terms of drifts over minutes, hours, and days. Stability over long timescales is critical for several important science cases, including exoplanet transit spectroscopy and coronagraphy. JWST's stability success was achieved through detailed design and testing, with several important lessons learned for future observatories, especially the Habitable Worlds Observatory that is expected to need even higher levels of stability. We review the stability architecture, how it was technologically demonstrated, the ground test results and improvements, the on-orbit results, and the lessons learned.

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Section: Modeling and Technologymentioning

confidence: 85%

“…The backplane stability test article (BSTA) and the subsequent test campaign were the response to the two elements of this critical technology demonstration. The details and results of the BSTA test have been reported previously 6 …”

Section: Thermo-mechanical Stabilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

James Webb Space Telescope optical stability lessons learned for future great observatories

Feinberg,

McElwain,

Bowers

et al. 2023

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

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“…19 For example, while new technologies such as the cryogenic beryllium mirrors on JWST benefited from early development and design maturity, 20,21 system-level thermal interactions (particularly between the hot spacecraft side of the Observatory and cold telescope side) required detailed modeling to accurately resolve all the potential parasitic and radiative thermal couplings that allowed the telescope to passively cool to the required operating temperatures. 22 A program of sub-scale thermal testing was eventually added to buy down this risk, [23][24][25] but several hardware additions and modifications were necessary throughout the development of the telescope to better close-out and address thermal paths between the two main thermal zones as well as to address thermal stray light concerns. 26 As development begins on future flagship astrophysics missions, resolving which systems interact and performing not only detailed early modeling but also sub-system-and sub-scale-level testing will be critically important both to validate the performance predicted by these models and to lay the groundwork for flight model validation (since large systems cannot employ the customary "test as you fly" paradigm).…”

Section: Carefully Consider System Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Achieving success in flagship missions: technical and programmatic insights from Ball Aerospace’s legacy

Barto,

Lightsey,

Schoeneweis

et al. 2023

J. Astron. Telesc. Instrum. Syst.

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With a long history of involvement in NASA flagship astrophysics missions, Ball Aerospace has made key contributions to Hubble, the new James Webb Space Telescope, and the upcoming Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. Here, we share lessons on both technical and programmatic topics gleaned from decades of productive experience in constructing system performance budgets, accelerating the initial design process, defining the philosophical approach to requirements, planning for serviceability, leveraging design complexity, accounting for subsystem interactions, breaking down barriers to cross-team collaboration, building a team capable of meeting long-term goals, integrating the customer into the enterprise, and promoting a team mindset that enables high achievement in the face of immense challenges. The teams designing and building the future Habitable Worlds Observatory can apply this knowledge to complete the next flagship mission more quickly and effectively with less expense.

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“…The SPS-DSPI was designed with specific characteristics to measure the deformations of the Backplane Stability Test Article (BSTA) 13 . BSTA is a full-scale section of the JWST Primary Mirror Backplane Assembly (PMBA), which is shown in Figure 3.…”

Section: Backplane Stability Test Article (Bsta)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of electronic speckle pattern interferometry for testing JWST composite structures

et al. 2007

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The stability requirements for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) optical metering structure are driven by the science objectives of the mission. This structure, JWST Optical Telescope Element (OTE) primary mirror backplane, has to be stable over time at cryogenic temperatures. Successful development of the large, lightweight, deployable, cryogenic metering structure requires verification of structural deformations to nanometer level accuracy in representative test articles at cryogenic temperature. An instantaneous acquisition phase shifting speckle interferometer was designed and built to support the development of JWST Optical Telescope Element (OTE) primary mirror backplane. This paper discusses characterization of the Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometer (SPS-DSPI) developed for JWST to verify its capabilities to measure structural deformations in large composite structures at cryogenic temperature. Interferometer performance during the Backplane Stability Test Article (BSTA) test that completed the TRL-6 (Technology Readiness Level-6) demonstration of Large Precision Cryogenic Structures will also be discussed.

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The JWST backplane stability test article: a critical technology demonstration

Cited by 10 publications

References 0 publications

James Webb Space Telescope optical stability lessons learned for future great observatories

James Webb Space Telescope optical stability lessons learned for future great observatories

Achieving success in flagship missions: technical and programmatic insights from Ball Aerospace’s legacy

Development of electronic speckle pattern interferometry for testing JWST composite structures

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