ULTRAsim: an integrated modeling environment for large, segmented telescopes with ultra-stable wavefronts

Abstract

NASA's Habitable Worlds Observatory will consist of a segmented telescope and high contrast coronagraph to characterize exoplanets for habitability. Achieving this objective requires an ultra-stable telescope with wavefront stability of picometers in certain critical modes. The Ultra-Stable Large Telescope Research and Analysis -Technology Maturation program has matured key component-level technologies as well as developed integrated modeling capability to predict performance in a flight system. ULTRASim is a stability simulation of an ultrastable telescope, including segment sensing and control of the primary mirror using actuators and edge sensors and global position control of the secondary and phased primary mirrors with laser metrology. New developments since previous publications include a capacitive edge sensing network and development of a control-structure interaction model.