VISTA Telescope WP
The Telescope Work Package comprises the Telescope Structure (wbs01), the M1 Cell (wbs03) and the Cassegrain Rotator (wbs04)
The Telescope WP Contract is being carried out by VertexRSI part of the Tripoint Global group located in Dallas Texas USA ( see Contractor details for Contact info and website).
The figure on the right shows the VISTA Telescope WP as presented at Final Design Review (FDR).
Telescope Structure (wbs01)
The telescope structure is based on an Altitude over Azimuth mount with the altitude axis above the primary mirror (M1).
The telescope fork consists of a welded steel structure that rotates around the azimuth axis by means of the azimuth bearing and azimuth drive.
The Azimuth Bearing is a large 3.5 m diameter rolling element bearing (ball bearing).
The Azimuth Drive is based upon a helical gear machined into the outside race of the azimuth bearing. There are four drive motors mounted on the telescope base in a back to back arrangement.
The Telescope Tube final design is a truss type design, using large steel tubes and is mounted on the centre section.
The centre section, which is another large truss steel structure, is mounted on the altitude bearings and motors interfacing to either side of the upper sections of the telescope fork.
A top end ring connects the upper ends of the tubes and interfaces to the spiders or vanes which support the M2 Unit.
The M1 Cell interfaces directly to the centrepiece of the telescope. The M1 mirror is supported and held in position on the cell by means of axial and lateral supports.