Optical Systems Engineering!!! What is it? Why do we do it? How do we do it? I’ll try explaining in just a few tweets.
For context we’re talking optical imaging cameras for satellites for earth observation, but the same ideas and processes are relevant for astronomical telescopes and other forms of payload or ground based equipment.
Like a traditional spacecraft-level system engineer, the Optical System Engineer is responsible for the whole optical system -> requirements, design, analysis, manufacture, assembly, verification and even sometimes in-orbit operation.
Key challenges include designing a system capable of maintaining precise alignment (micron level) of optical components after a violent launch environment and a fluctuating thermal environment.. and then verifying it will work for many years!
Why do we do it? The role is all about executing a delicate balance of technical parameters to optimise performance (more on that next), mass, power consumption, and constraints on the spacecraft
GSD, SNR, MTF. Perhaps acronyms you’re very familiar with, perhaps not. If you’re not, and you’re interested in earth observation, then read on!
Ground Sample Distance, simply put its the spatial resolution, calculated by a projection of a pixel on the ground --> GSD = Orbital Height x Pixel Size / Focal Length. Of course the diffraction limit still applies, so not quite as simple as this, but a good start.
Signal to Noise Ratio (you know that one don’t you), is what it says on the tin, how much ‘good’ input signal you have compared to how much ‘bad’ signal you have! Big number = good. Bad signal includes things like electronics noise. (imagine funny SNR GIF)
Modulation Transfer Function. The tricky one. But vital for understanding the imaging performance. Related to the astronomer’s favourite, Point Spread Function. Essentially it describes how blurry the imager makes the scene. Hard to explain on Twitter, so: edmundoptics.co.uk/knowledge-cent…
Any questions? Fire away.
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PEOPLE OF SPACE! I’m super excited to be hosting this week! We’ll be covering a bunch of topics that are near and dear to me including #space (obviously), astronomy, supernovae, radio astronomy, science communication, and MORE
🧵 #science#scicomm#spacetwitter#intro#Thread
But who is this random dude yelling at us about space?
Well the short version is that I’m a physicist who finished high school with every intention of becoming a lawyer - pictured is 19yo me not caring about science #accidentalscientist#accidentalphysicist#throwback#SPACE
The mission patch was based on a design from well known Italian fashion designer, Emilio Pucci. The design has three stylized birds flying over the Hadley-Appenine landing site with the crew names on the lower part of the outer border.
In an early version of an Easter egg, the crew snuck a Roman numeral XV into the crater shadows. According to a story I heard from one of Al Worden's @ExploreSpaceKSC presentations, NASA discouraged Roman numerals on the Apollo patches, thus the hidden nature.
Before his passing last year, @WordenAlfred was a regular astronaut host at @ExploreSpaceKSC giving presentations guiding tours and being an affable ambassador of the Apollo program to a new audience.
On board were (left to right) Lunar Module Pilot Jim Irwin, Commander Dave Scott, and Command Module Pilot Al Worden
The landing site was Hadley-Appenine, on the edge of Mare Imbrium. It was bordered by Hadley Rille, a valley-like geological structure and the Montes Apenninus, or Appenine Mountains. The Palus Putredinus was a lava field that filled the area.
Today I’ll be working on some research for the big Mars exhibition! As I said yesterday, I’m working on researching how people have been imaging the Red Planet throughout history.
Today we have orbiters circling Mars and rovers that take pictures of the surface. But the history of imaging Mars stretches back centuries, from depicting Mars in art to the canals people thought they saw on the planet.
What are some of your favourite images of Mars and why?
Going to talk about designing a temporary display today!
In Science Museum lingo, there are 2 kinds of displays:
🚀Exhibitions (temporary displays) - these can last up to a year
🚀Galleries (permanent displays)
Even a temporary display might take several years to prepare for, with overviews and detailed proposals.
Exotic solvents & life's building blocks are among the more speculative #astrobiology topics, but still important to study scientifically! Our own system contains places potentially able to host life unlike on Earth. Not just Titan!
All Earth life is carbon-based and needs water to survive. 💦
'Mildly' exotic life might share these traits, but use e.g. other information molecule (or differently coded DNA, even with different/more 'letters') or opposite chirality (left/right-handedness) of some compounds.
There are countless possibilities of different information molecules and their coding. Is Earth DNA and RNA a ', frozen accident', or does it have a phys/chem reason? And is all life chiral? In the same way, or is that another frozen accident? What about the amino acids we use?