The concept of controlling optical laser beams on spacecraft for acquisition, tracking and pointing purposes is quickly becoming a reality. As a result, fine pointing of laser beams is turn out to be an increasingly important research topic. A unique testbed was constructed in order to study and develop new methods for laser beam control. This testbed, the Moving Target-Source Test Fixture (MTSTF), hosts a laser source, the Extremely Agile Relaying Laser Source (EARLS), which has the capability of automatically acquiring and directing a laser beam onto a satellite simulator while in motion. The purpose of this thesis is to make the EARLS platform operational by developing a tracking control system. The ultimate goal is to point the laser beam at the satellite simulatorâ s receiving telescope and maintain the laser within the telescopeâ s limits in the presence of structural disturbance induced by the EARLS motion.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:nps.edu/oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/2630 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Johnson, Scott L. |
| Contributors | Agrawal, Brij, Kim, Jae Jun, Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)., Department of Mechanical and Astronautical Engineering |
| Publisher | Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School |
| Source Sets | Naval Postgraduate School |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xiv, 91 p. : col. ill. ;, application/pdf |
| Rights | Approved for public release, distribution unlimited |
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