Automated Alignment System – Fine Guidance Sensor
This project was carried out to characterize and test the Fine Guidance Sensor of the James Webb Space Telescope. Neosoft contributed by developing an application used to align the various telescopes mounted within an aluminum structure designed to simulate space conditions (vacuum at -250°C). One of the key objectives of the system was to determine the exact position of each telescope with micrometer-level precision. As the temperature decreases, the aluminum structure contracts and deforms, altering the alignment of the telescopes.
Our system is used to monitor all parameters in real time, including telescope alignment and the optical characteristics of the light beam, as the structure’s temperature varies between -250°C and +70°C. Figure 1 shows the structure with the telescopes.
Figure 1 – Aluminum Structure with Telescope Simulators
The system notably uses two CCD cameras: one with a lens and the other without. Both are mounted on a movable 3-axis platform (X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis for focus). The three axes move simultaneously in different directions to locate the light beam generated by each telescope. To do this, the system also periodically captures images and analyzes them to determine the beam’s position and optical characteristics.
We used the NI Vision Development Module for image acquisition and processing, integrating a custom centroid algorithm to locate the center of the light beam. The system performs continuous measurements to monitor variations.
We take multiple measurements to validate the extreme precision of the results—down to the micrometer. The position of each telescope is then recorded in a file for future analysis. Figure 2 shows a typical image of a telescope as captured by the CCD camera.
Figure 2 – Image of a Telescope
This image is specifically analyzed by the software to determine several values such as the Point Spread Function (PSF), centroid, intensity, and ellipsoid.
The software was developed using LabVIEW 8.6, the NI Vision Development Module, and LabVIEW IMAQdx. It runs on a laptop computer using Windows XP as the operating system. The movable platform is controlled via RS-232 serial communication. Figure 3 shows the visual interface of the FGS alignment system.
Figure 3 – FGS Alignment System Visual Interface
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By choosing Neosoft for your custom software development and consulting needs, you benefit from recognized expertise, a personalized approach, and cutting-edge technologies to optimize your processes and ensure the quality of your products.
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