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Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 5)
Future space telescope missions require extreme dimensional stability (<10 picometers per 10 minutes) which in turn requires extreme thermal stability. To meet this objective, AI Thermal Control will investigate multiple AI architectures to determine which is best suited for thermal control and compare the best-in-class AI architecture with thermal control algorithms commonly used in practice such as a PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) or Bang-Bang controllers.
Two telescope missions under review by the 2020 decadal (HabEx & LUVOIR) require extreme dimensional stability and could use this technology. Both of these missions offer the promise of identifying habitable planets outside of our solar system, and the HabEx Telescope Design Lead believes "Thermal control is an enabling technology for HabEx," therefore, this technology could be pivotal in identifying these habitable planets.
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