Prototyping of cryomechanisms for the JWST near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec)

Ralph Hofferbert; Dietrich Lemke; Armin Bohm; Ulrich Grozinger; Thomas Henning; Armin Huber; Oliver Krause; Stefan Mertin; Jose Ramos; Ralf-Rainer Rohloff; Georg Luichtel; Kai Weidlich; Gilles Baudin; Winfried Posselt; Ruben Nalbandian; Peter Jensen

doi:10.1117/12.550419

29 September 2004 Prototyping of cryomechanisms for the JWST near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec)

Ralph Hofferbert, Dietrich Lemke, Armin Bohm, Ulrich Grozinger, Thomas Henning, Armin Huber, Oliver Krause, Stefan Mertin, Jose Ramos, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Georg Luichtel, Kai Weidlich, Gilles Baudin, Winfried Posselt, Ruben Nalbandian, Peter Jensen

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 5495, Astronomical Structures and Mechanisms Technology; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550419
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2004, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Abstract

In 2011 NASA and ESA plan to launch the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) as dignified successor of the Hubble Space Telescope. Three scientific instruments will cover the wavelength regions in the near-infrared (0.6-5μm, NIRCam and NIRSpec) and in the mid-infrared (5-28μm, MIRI), respectively. The ESA-led multi-object spectrograph NIRSpec as major European contribution is presently entering the detailed design phase in a collaboration between European space industries, scientific institutes, ESA and NASA. To allow for various operational modes in the instrument’s optical train several cryo-mechanisms are required, i.e. wheels for exchanging optical elements like filters and gratings as well as linear actuators on refocusing mirrors. We will give an overview on the detailed design, the prototyping and the testing of those mechanisms comprising highest reliability in the cryo-vacuum (~ 35K) combined with minimal power dissipation (~ 5mW on average), ultimate position accuracy (~ 0.5 - 1arcsec) combined with high launch vibration capability (ARIANE 5, ~ 60g) and a very long lifetime (~ 15 years) for ground tests and space operation under various environmental conditions. To reach this goal in a low cost and risk approach we rely on the heritage from ESA's earlier infrared missions, i.e. ISO and HERSCHEL.

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Ralph Hofferbert, Dietrich Lemke, Armin Bohm, Ulrich Grozinger, Thomas Henning, Armin Huber, Oliver Krause, Stefan Mertin, Jose Ramos, Ralf-Rainer Rohloff, Georg Luichtel, Kai Weidlich, Gilles Baudin, Winfried Posselt, Ruben Nalbandian, and Peter Jensen "Prototyping of cryomechanisms for the JWST near-infrared spectrograph (NIRSpec)", Proc. SPIE 5495, Astronomical Structures and Mechanisms Technology, (29 September 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.550419

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