Scott Nicholas
A Northrop Grumman subsidiary has received funds from the Thirty Meter Telescope organization to continue support work on a narrow field infrared adaptive optics system for the TMT astronomical observatory construction initiative.
Northrop said Tuesday its subsidiary AOA Xinetics will design and build a functional actuator mirror equipped with nearly 400 channels as well as test the mirror against TMT operational requirements.
An international consortium that includes the California Institute of Technology and the University of California aims to construct a 30-meter-class ground-based telescope intended to help astronomers study the solar system.
“Because TMT is being designed specifically with adaptive optics in mind, it could provide new observational opportunities in essentially every field of astronomy and astrophysics,” said Roman Hachkowski, general manager of AOA Xinetics.
Northrop noted the unit will also design two deformable mirrors for the telescope’s multi-conjugate adaptive optics system.
AOA Xinetics, part of Northrop’s aerospace products business, produces optomechanical and electro-optic systems for the government, commercial and industrial sectors.
