Patents Assigned to Ball Aerospace & Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5898529
    Abstract: A large aperture light-weight space borne telescope is provided which may be launched by a relatively small launch vehicle. A 6 to 8 meter primary telescope composed of, e.g., 30 segments arranged in two concentric rings is provided. Supplemental outer mirror segments are stowed behind and substantially perpendicular to the main mirror which is usable in the absence of supplemental mirror deployment. Deployment of outer mirrors segments provides a large aperture telescope with a large field of view. Other deployable components include a secondary mirror, a bus, deployable with respect to the optics portion, and one or more sun shade sheets or panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Ball Aerospace & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Wallace W. Meyer, Robert A. Woodruff