Predictive Thermal Control Technology for potential HabEx Mission

Imaging and characterize Earth-like planets requires the ability to block 1010 of the host star's light with a 10-11 stability. For an internal coronagraph, this requires correcting wavefront errors and keeping that correction stable to a few picometers rms for the duration of the science observation. Providing this capability requires a thermally stable telescope. Predictive Thermal Control Technology (PTCT) is a multiyear effort to develop, demonstrate, mature towards TRL6, and assess the utility of model based Predictive Thermal Control (PTC) technology to enable a thermally stable telescope. PTCT demonstrates technology maturation by model validation and characterization testing of traceable components in a relevant environment. PTCT's efforts are conducted in consultation with the Cosmic Origins Office and NASA Program Analysis Groups. To mature Thermally Stable Telescope technology, PTCT has defined three objectives: 1. Validating models that predict thermal optical performance of real mirrors and structure based on their structural designs and constituent material properties, i.e. coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) distribution, thermal conductivity, thermal mass, etc. 2. Deriving thermal system stability specifications from wavefront stability requirement. 3. Demonstrating utility of a Predictive Control thermal system for achieving thermal stability. To achieve these objectives, PTCT defined a detailed technical plan with five quantifiable milestones: 1. Develop a high-fidelity flight traceable model of the AMTD-2 1.5 meter ULE® mirror, including 3D CTE distribution and reflective optical coating, that predicts its optical performance response to steady-state and dynamic thermal gradients under bang/bang and proportional thermal control. 2. Derive specifications for thermal control system as a function of wavefront stability. 3. Design and build a predictive Thermal Control System for a 1.5 meter ULE® mirror using new and existing Commercial-off-the-shelf components that sense temperature changes at the ~1mK level and actively controls the mirror's thermal environment at the ~20mK level. 4. Validate the model by testing a flight traceable 1.5-m class ULE® mirror in a relevant thermal vacuum environment in the MSFC X-ray and Cryogenic Facility (XRCF) test facility. 5. Use the validated model to perform trade studies to determine how thermo-optical performance can be optimized as a function of mirror design, material selection, mass, etc. PTCT advances the SOA by developing a predictive control method that uses a thermal ‘model in the loop’ to control the thermal system. Our goal is to demonstrate a ‘system’ technology solution that enables a thermally stable telescope, for exoplanet science, that keeps the telescope at a constant temperature independent of where it looks on the sky.

The Strategic Astrophysics Technology program (SAT) supports focused development efforts for key technologies to the point at which they are ready to feed into major missions in the three science themes of the Astrophysics Division: Exoplanet Exploration, Cosmic Origins, and the Physics of the Cosmos. This program is specifically designed to address middle technology readiness level (TRL) "gaps" between levels 3 and 6: the maturation of technologies that have been established as feasible, but which are not yet sufficiently mature to incorporate into flight missions without introducing an unacceptable level of risk. NASA does not require a data management plan for proposals to SAT.

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