Optimizing the alignment of the Korsch telescope with consideration of gravitational effects

Abstract

We propose an alignment strategy that includes optimization criteria and appropriate targets to achieve satisfactory performance both on the ground and in space. The performance of a space telescope can vary significantly based on its assembly and alignment on the ground and its operation in space. Simulations were conducted to study the effects of gravity on a Korsch-type telescope with 0° astigmatism in the primary mirror. The results indicated that gravity influenced overall performance and led to an imbalance in performance across different fields. We propose three optimization criteria: overall, balanced, and good performance in both ground- and space-based environments. To meet these criteria, the telescope was optimized under the influence of gravity. Consequently, the selected optimization target successfully met the criteria by achieving good and balanced performance on the ground and in space. However, typical optimization targets, such as minimizing and designing the RMS wavefront error, are unable to fulfill all three criteria. Therefore, our alignment strategy offers a suitable solution that considers gravitational effects.