An in-flight alignment calibration scheme for astronomy telescope

Developing the observation technology in space astronomy science, to realize accurate pointing control and/or to determine accurate direction of the observing objects are strongly required. However, it is difficult to be free from the problem of the distortion of the satellite structure or the telescope itself that is induced by thermally or other complex phenomena. These distortion cause analysis error in the observation analysis. This paper proposes a solution. In this scheme, several displacement-measuring equipments are introduced and the outputs of this monitor system are sending to ground-station. This scheme is assuming the linearity of the relation between the distortion and observed results by mission instrument (such as space telescope). Once this basic assumption is accepted, it becomes to be able to use mathematical linear theory for alignment analysis. As the results, it enables to compensate observing data to perform the calibration operation in orbit.