Star Fleet Engineering Obscure Telescope Making Web Page

Star Fleet Engineering: Telescope Mucking Pages

Don't ask! These are events that try men's souls. (But of course there is no such thing as a "soul")

Perhaps the sentiments contained in the following pages, are not YET sufficiently fashionable to procure them general favour; a long habit of not thinking a thing WRONG, gives it a superficial appearance of being RIGHT, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes more converts than reason." . . . Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776.

Shop Practices for the ATM
Here you will find more than you want to know about mirror making and testing.

The "Satanic Cross" reveals unacceptable strain in glass BEFORE you start your mirror project
Telescope Engineering
Articles on engineering and technology issues and practices, including topics in finite element modeling, mirror flotation, stressed mirror technology,and ribbed mirror design. Commentary on where the experts went wrong.
In the Pipeline: Optics Projects Waiting to Be Done
Optics Education
Links, places you can go and publications you can read to learn more.

Finite element modeling: thin plate model of surface deformation in ribbed mirror under polishing pressure
Stuff for Sale
Crass Commercial Offerings of Star Fleet Engineering.
Other Interesting Reading!New Palm stuff added November 2003

e-mail contact:

Sorry for my lame anti-spamming effort. Manually make the obvious corrections to this address,and email to: richas&earthlink,not.

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optical propulsion project: .mil .gov .edu only!