OTA80

ScyLight

Status

Ongoing
Status date

2025-01-30
Activity Code

6C.061

Objectives

The objective of the project is to design a cost-effective Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) with Nasmyth output for an 80cm telescope dedicated for optical communications.

While most solutions deploy today are based on a classical telescope design, AMOS is developing an optical tube designed specifically for optical communications. It allows for larger throughput at a lower cost and lead time.

With this project, AMOS is designing the OTA and the possible tools required for the manufacturing, integration and test of the 80cm tube. The goal is to work on a cost-effective design and to reduce the time of delivery.

Challenges

The following challenges are identified for the project:

Development of an optical antenna with higher performances compared to classical telescopes
To have a cost- effective design
To reduce the time from order to delivery by selecting components with lower lead time and simpler assemblies.

Benefits

The OTA80 is available as COTS product for companies willing to develop optical antennas. It offers:

High optical quality
Low obscuration and higher throughput
Two Nasmyth ports possible
Compatibility with AMOS’ back-end optical conditioner
Lower lead time

Features

The final product is an optical tube dedicated for optical communication to be embarked on mounts built by RF antenna manufacturers (or other OGS integrator), which should result in a performant operational optical antenna for this market. The optical design is specific for the application to keep cost down and simple optics. This tube is compatible with a traditional Ritchey-Chretien configuration for customers willing a more traditional design. Other characteristics of the tube are: long back-focal length to accommodate various receivers; optimized coating in terms of throughput and polarization sensitivity, small central obscuration leading to higher throughput and better compatibility with AO systems, and robust tube able to interface several side instruments/telescopes.

System Architecture

The optical tube is composed of following sub systems and components:

Optical Tube Assembly
M1 unit
M2 unit, including focuser
M3 unit
Tube structure
M1 cover
Interfaces for auxiliary telescopes

Plan

The project phases are:

Definition Phase;

Requirements & interfaces are developed resulting in a optical antenna baseline concept.
Technology Phase

Preliminary and detailed design of an optical antenna is performed with a PDR and CDR.

Manufacturing and validation of the OTA80 system.

Current status

PDR achieved, CDR in progress.