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This page will contain brainstorming, outlines, and drafts for the conference publications we seek to submit that involve Optics and other subsystems.

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SmallSat Utah 2025, Poster

Seek to submit to SmallSat Utah 2025 under this category: “Science/Mission Payloads, Innovative technologies or full-up systems that allow cutting-edge missions to be formulated.”

Submit An Abstract | SmallSat

We would like to submit an abstract for a poster. 500 words max. Describe the FINCH EYE payload (Optics + Pay-Mech). Focus on innovation and cutting edge.

• innovation = GRISM, cutting edge = 3U SWIR hyperspectral imager satellite (others are much larger, we are ultracompact). GRISM is “enabling technology”.
• Please understand that this viewpoint is flashy and over-the-top, but necessary to get into the conference. Keep in mind that everyone else will be bragging about their designs to get in as well. We aren’t doing any real cutting-edge optics, here at UTAT SS.

Outline for paper (abstract = summary): (KN in purple)

• introduce mission concept, explain how we’re filling in a “sensing gap”
• explain that we developed a “novel, ultra-compact GRISM-based push-broom hyperspectral imaging payload” to satisfy challenging mission requirements while still providing data useful to the scientific community.
• explain that GRISM architecture significantly simplifies optomechanical assembly.
• Describe progress made so far: design and analysis
  • our design: single tube, lens barrel. Explain ray trace, derive optical performance specs, development of custom relay lenses.
    • optomech: balancing tolerance stack up, alignment requirements, manufacturability. solved with industry “active alignment” methods with innovative “Mario’s adjustor” (rename).
  • discussion of tolerances and important considerations on a qualitative level (no simulations yet)
  • analyses: optical (tol + thermal + stray light, ZEMAX), mechanical and thermal (vibration, stress, STOP in ANSYS / SigFit). We did X simulation and obtained Y result, hence we obtain Z performance under W condition.
    • STOP analysis is super complicated and is done only for NASA level projects
    • currently have good, refined, quasi-static analysis results with >3 FOS for payload.
  • prototyping: from CAD, to 3D printing, to machining ourselves, to (soon) sending to external manufacturing facility. validating design from high to low fidelity.
• conclude with ongoing work
  • fabrication of custom components, alignment and testing procedures.
  • random vibe & natural frequency sims