Design, Implementation, and Performance of the Primary Reflector for SALTUS

TL;DR

This paper details the design, manufacturing, and performance evaluation of a 14-meter inflatable primary mirror for the SALTUS space telescope, emphasizing its suitability for long-duration infrared observations.

Contribution

It introduces the innovative inflatable primary mirror M1 for SALTUS, covering its design, manufacturing process, environmental performance, and longevity analysis.

Findings

M1 meets mission lifetime requirements with margin.

Performance in temperature and solar wind conditions is satisfactory.

Inflatable technology is viable for large space telescopes.

Abstract

The Single Aperture Large Telescope for Universe Studies (SALTUS) is a mission concept for a far-infrared observatory developed under the recent Astrophysics Probe Explorer opportunity from NASA. The enabling element of the program is a 14 m diameter inflatable primary mirror, M1. Due to its importance to SALTUS and potentially other space observatories, this paper focuses entirely on M1. We present a historical overview of inflatable systems, illustrating that M1 is the logical next step in the evolution of such systems. The process of design and manufacture is addressed. We examine how M1 performs in its environment in terms of operating temperature, interaction with the solar wind, and shape change due to non-penetrating particles. We investigate the longevity of the inflatant in detail and show it meets mission lifetime requirements with ample margin and discuss the development and testing to realize the flight M1.