Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Sparse Aperture Testbed For Image Correction in Small Satellite Formations

This thesis examines current sparse aperture technologies using multiple small satellites, with a focus on experimental simulation and testing using the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) sparse aperture testbed. Sparse aperture studies researched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Jet Propulsion Laboratory study and previous NPS students served as the foundation for the sparse aperture testbed design and testing. The testbed incorporates three collector mirrors, each with six degrees of freedom for independent motion and tracking, complemented by a real-time laser metrology system for simulation of collector mirror satellites. A separate combiner platform with three piston-tip-tilt mirrors corrects optical aberrations caused by formation flying errors on the collector mirror satellites. The implementation of the sparse aperture concept into the experimental testbed provides means to study key sparse aperture technologies experimentally. The testbed's ability to induce disturbances on the collector mirrors and correct the resulting image through the laser metrology system and the combiner mirror platform establishes a research platform for future work in optical sparse aperture designs for real life space applications.