PROGRESS REPORT DECEMBER 15, 1959 TO JANUARY 15, 1960

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP67B00945R000200230001-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 29, 2014
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 15, 1959
• Content Type: REPORT

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DOC. NCJ
TOTAL PAGES_J
PROGRESS REPORT
*December. 15, 1959 to January 15, 1960
Submitted by:
STAT
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=VARY
OPTICAL SYSTEM
An optical system, a modified Schmidt in form, has been evolved WM&
provides a flat focal plane. This is a great assistance in reducing the
problems of the film transport and 'INC. In addition it may permit a 24" .
focal length.
Wutows
Analyses of available Bureau of Standards data-has'led us to the iiipe
?
of 3000.1b4. Per square inch as the allowable fiber stress. Two blanks,
one 16" in diameter from !Lenten. and One 30" in diameter from Corning,-
. .
have been received and are being polished so that they may be inspected for
optical quality. A thermal shutter in the window appears to be quite effective
in limiting the beat flux into the bay. The feasibility of .such a: shutter
will be determined by design study.
CAMERA STEADINESS
A, mock-up of the stabilization system is under construction and will
very shortly be available for tests. While this mock-up will use gyros at
hand, two gyros of more recent design offer promise of considerable improvement
and will be added to the mock-up as they become available. A preliminary
design for aircraft attitude simulator is complete and specifications have
been released for quotation.
MECHANICAL COMPONENTS
Mockups of film transport, concentric spools and turning rollers are
under construction.
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S11/4KRY (Cont'd)
TEST FACILITIES
A small vacuum Chamber for evaluating the optical effect of the bay
environment is under construction and very nearly completed. A, math larger
test chamber to receive the entire configuration bas been specified and
released for vendor quotation.
4.3
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OPTICAL SYSTEM
To date two optical systems have received the most attention. One of these,
designated as the Flugge system, characterized by narrow field, has rather ser-
ious problems of image size and, thus, low resolution at the larger field angles.
This has influenced us to give preference to a'Schmidt system, which produces
excellent images but suffers from two major disadvantages: First, it requires.
_
a curved focal plane and, second, its overall length is two focal lengths and,
therefore, for desirable field angles, this system requires rather sizeable
and thus heavy optics. Something over a month ago, a suggestion by Di. Baker
appeared promising in that it provided a very much smaller system having given
focal length and thus, for our use ,would permit a longer focal length within the
size and weight limitaEions. In addition, a basic property of the new system
would be a flat focal plane.. In the Period covered by this report, the basic
system and several varieties have been investigated in an attempt to discover
its true image forming capabilities. The images were disappointingly large at
field angles required by a useful application of the system. During the same
period, a complete analysis of the image motion compensation requirement for any
system having spherical foeal plane was carried out. It develops that such
systems produce uncompensatible image motions for field angles as large as are
necessary in our application. This results directly from the fact that the
velocity of motion is a function of field angle and, therefore, the film or the
image must move at different velocities at different points simultaneously.
Three additional lens systems have been examined: one is the previous
Schmidt system with a field flattening lens. Images from this system are quite
unsatisfactory. Second, is a modification of the Schmidt system in which the
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?11
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?
-2-
field is flattened by an additional curved mirror. This basic system has
proved extremely satisfactory in a large astronomical telescope and has been
carried through a rather complete design for a 12" 1/2 photographic lens.
Our analysis indicates that an 18" f/4 segment of a 1/2 system with a field of
14 would produce satisfactory images. At this writing, further design investi-
gations are being carried out for a 24" f/3.5 system covering a 20? field.
The increase in focal length is possible because of the magnification of the
secondary mirror which makes this overall system about 1-3/3 focal lengths long
rather than the two focal lengths of the classical Schmidt. If the images of
faster, wider field, longer focal length system are satisfactory, the change in
the layouts submitted to date is quite minor in that one of the flat mirrors is
replaced by a convex mirror- All other components are changed in detail, but
not in general size or location. Additional study has been made of the choice of
coverage with and without stereo and a table is included to show some of the
alternatives.
The third system is a nearly classical i5etzval with its attendant dis-
advantage of strong variation of focal length with temperature end pressure.
A design already carried out for another problem was examined in a form suit-
able for our use. Again, the images at our required field angles were not
acceptably small.
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ASSUMED RESULTS
EFL RANGE FILM COMPLETE FIELD FILM FILM
LENGTH STERO ANGLE WIDTH H WEIGHT
_ ..
24" 2500
24" 2500
18" 2500
18" 2500
18" 2500
2500
2500
1800
.1000
1500
4500
6100
4500
6300
YES
YES
YES
YES
' 300 .
21?
21?
15?
13?
9"
6.8"
4.8".
/ ?
- 117*
' 110*
61#
61?
4500 ---,
(10 MILE STEREO)
.110
3:.'5""
32*
4500
. - igs--
:14?
3"
? 27*
4500
(1(i MILE STEREO)
14?
6"
54*
4500
YES
' 21?
911
81#
4500
YES
' .20? .?
911
81#
(10 MILE STEREO).
YES
(10, MILE-STEREO);
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- 3 -
WINDOWS
As background information we have looked into the simplest possible
window area consisting of two layers, the outer one necessarily of quartz
and whose inner surface is at 500oF. The upper window might be of optical
glass since we have assumed that its temperature is 120?. Both inner surfaces
are coated with a reflecting film whose emissivity in the infrared is two-tenths
but which is quite transparent in the visible. The space between the glassex
is to be evacuated. This window configuration produces a heat flux for windows
of the size we are now contemplating of 160 watts. This heat must be removed:
by the atmosphere of the bay. It is our feeling that this heat flux is much
too great to be handled by a simple convection cooling at the upper surface.
In Order that we may be able to obtain direct data on the optical effects of
convection over the range of pressures from atmospheric to ambient in the bay
and over a wide range of temperature differentials between the upper surface
of the window and the bay environment, we
are
and evacuated to simulate this portion of the
components of this experiment are at hand
and
building a box which can be heated
optical path. Most of the
testa will start January 22nd.
It is hoped that early results from these tests will give us a sound foundation
for specifying the environment and permissible heat input from the windows
to the bay.
The National Bureau of Standards during 1958 ran a large number of tests
on a variety of optical materials at elevated temperetures to determine the
breaking stresses for slowly applied forces. Among the materials tested was
quartz so this
fiber stresses
the samples.
ably below the
data has been analyzed. The results showed a wide range of
at failure depending strongly on the surface condition of
Some of the polished plates failed at fiber stresses consider-
average for all plates even though there were no detectable
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NO. 319-C. MILLIMETERS. 100 EIV 250 DIVISIONS.
CODEX MAlizsACHUSLIIS.
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4
flaws in the surface. It was found that by sandblasting the surface under
carefully controlled conditions, the spread of failure stresses could be
greatly reduced. The average stress now vas located at the point where the
weakest polished specimens previously failed.. Since the flaws .in the polished
specimens could not be detected, it was felt that these Abraded: samples might
be a better measure of the likelihood of failure in the sort of operation-We, -
are contemplating. The distribution of stresses at tailure from the National
3
Bureau of Standards. data was used to predict the reliability "ercentagep_.
AS a function of stress. The fiber stress for windows of various thicknesses
And, therefore, various weights, was computed and compared with the predicted .
. reliability from the teat data. The stress employed for. these computations.
? was. the sum of that Ilue to one atmosphere on the plate and that due: to thermal
? stress produced by temperature gradients in the plate deduced from the analog
computer data when combined with the temperature profile for the mission;
_ .
. This latter stress reaches 1000 psi a few minutes after take-off. during
climb-out, but eventually stabilizes at a nearly negligible value during the
rest of the flight. From the shape of the curve, we concluded that to 'aim for
reliability greater than 99.97.,or one failure in a thousand, resulted in
a considerable weight penalty. On the other hand, the cost in weight foroa
reliability of 99.97. as compared to 991. was rather small. We, therefore,
recommend the use of 30001bs. per square inch as the design fiber stress
since this number corzespondi_ to the 99.91. reliability value. This number
? does not include the normal 1.5 designing factor of.safety; It would be my
suggestion that a window test procedure producing thermal stresses and mech-
anical stresses exceeding those rea4zed in operation by a factor of lk,
would permit a design stress of 3000 psi.
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5
We are preparing a test program which would involve a request to the
Bureau of Standards to repeat the type of tests already performed, but on
BK-7 glass. It now appears possible to utilize this glass in the second and
third layers rather than the much more expensive quartz, provided thermal
shock tests indicate its usability. The basic designs for mounting these
_
.pieces of glass have been prepared and are serving as a basis of discussion
with material consultants, vehicle manufacturer, and others.
Following the suggestion of Dr. Purcell, the effectiveness of a thermal
shutter has been determined. It appears that the thermal flux through the
window can be reduced by at least a factor of two with a properly designed
Shutter. A feasibility design study is under way so that the problems of
providing such a shutter in the restricted surface and high vacuum environ-
ment may be properly evaluated. One undesirable aspect of the shutter has come
to light and that is that the heat flux comes in pulses in the second window
and this may Produce undesirable optical effects.
We have received samples of large discs of fused silica; one 16" in
diameter from Heraeus, and one 301/2" in diameter from Corning. These samples
are now in our Optical Shop being polished so that they may be inspected
for optical homogeneity.
However the windows are constructed, all of our current thinking depends
on the availability of satisfactory coatings. These coatings should be
low emissivity but higher reflectivity in the infrared as well as high
transmission in the visible. We have received some encouraging information
from the coating industry concerning not only improvements in the present gold
coating technique, but other methods of inducing high transmission in the
optical region in otherwise high reflecting metallic coats.
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CAMERA STEADINESS
The aspect of this portion of the program which has received the greatest
attention during the last month has been the planning of the stabilization
method. In order to realize our objectives, a gyro with a noise level at its
null of the order of 1/10 of a second of arc when filtered to a time constant
of 1/100 of a second is required. A Minneapolis-Honeywell gyro, GG87, which
is of the HIG form, but miniaturized, seems to have the necessary characteris-
tics. One disadvantage of this gyro arises from the fact that its basic
action depends on the viscosity of the fluid with which it is filled--very
accurate temperature control is required.. In its normal form, considerable
heat input for the thermostats must be available. While it is possible to
arrange other methods of thermostating, since this heat input is objectionable,
the details are yet to be established. An attractive alternative is a
gyroscope of new design developed by Sperry which has the advantages of great
sensitivity and reliability and a considerably lower noise level at null. A
single gyro will provide signals about two-axes and, therefore, the system would
be quite a bit smaller overall. It may not be possible to obtain prototypes
and produce units of this more attractive unit on the schedule which must be
maintained on this project. A mock-up of the stabilization system is under
construction which will duplicate the moment of inertia of the camera.
Readily available BIG-5 gyros are to be used in the mock-up and tests
will start on February 5th. The first stabilization form to be investigated
would employ reaction flywheels of such size as to represent about 17. of the
moment of inertia of the camera. This system will also include the weight
shifters to provide 50 in.-lbs. of gravitational torque.
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MECHANICAL COMPONENTS AND ASSEMBLIES
A mock-up of the film transport mechanism, including INC devices and film
velocity control mechanisms, has been laid out. This mock-up is expected to
be in operation March 15th. A prototype of the coaxial spool arrangement ,
will be ready for test early in February and since this device requires a
-film-turning roller, severalalternate mechanisms have been assembled. An
. air floatation psuedo roller is yielding excellent results and will'be the
subject of further detailed investigation.. A large sliding sector roller
:las an alternative was given some study some time ago but will need to be
greatly reduced in size and weight before it becomes attractive. The beaded
'roller scheme, used in the E-2 cliMera,for this purpose, we are told by the
? Air.Force, has proved completely satisfactory but we wish to obtain further
.. data on the tendency of this roller to pressure mark the film.
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ELECTRONICS
During the past month design work on the V/H sensor has continued and a
variety of solid state detectors have been studied to determine which would
be the most suitable for this specific problem. The electronics required
for the mock-up of the stabilization mechanism are 707. completed. Studies
of the servo requirements for film velocity and mirror rotation velocity
control continue.
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-9 -
TEST FACILITIES
Specifications for a three-axes attitude simulator capable of supporting
the whole configuration have been prepared and some manufacturing quotations
solicited. This simulator will provide optical methods of checking the methods
of stabilization of equipment of the configuration under carefully controlled
_conditions .of_angular_motion about the three axes. In addition to the small
vacuum chamber for optical tests of the bay environment mentioned above,
a large chamber capable of receiving the entire configuration and providing
the, thermal and pressure environment to be expected from the bay, has been
Specified.- These specifications have been released to interested vendors
and some quotes received. It has been our policy to attempt to get work on
these test facilities under way early enough so that they will be ready for
use by the time the equipment is ready for test.
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