High-stiffness structure for larger aperture telescope

1. A telescope support assembly, comprising:

a metering structure consisting of a triangular frame formed by three side beams and three rectangular end pieces, each of the end pieces connected between ends of two of the side beams and truncating one corner of a triangle formed by the respective side beams,

wherein the end pieces each include a top, a bottom, first and second opposing major surfaces extending between the respective top and bottom, and opposing side edges extending between the respective top and bottom and between the first and second major surfaces,

wherein the end pieces are each configured for connection of support loads,

wherein each side beam is connected at a first end to a side edge of a first of the end pieces and at a second end to a side edge of a second of the end pieces, and

wherein each end piece is connected to an end of a first of the side beams at a first of the side edges of the respective end piece and to an end of a second of the side beams at a second of the side edges of the respective end piece;

secondary mirror struts supporting a secondary mirror assembly, each secondary mirror strut connected to one of a plurality of first strut mounts, each first strut mount mounted on the metering structure at the top of one of the end pieces; and

primary mirror struts supporting a primary mirror, each primary mirror strut connected to one of a plurality of second strut mounts, each second strut mount mounted on the metering structure at the bottom of one of the end pieces.

2. The telescope support assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the tops of the end pieces extend above upper corners of the side beams.

3. The telescope support assembly according to claim 1 , wherein bottom corners of the side beams include cut outs sized to accommodate end portions of strut mounts.

4. The telescope support assembly according to claim 1 , wherein a height of each of the side beams is smaller in a central region of the respective side beam than at the ends of the respective side beam.

5. The telescope support assembly according to claim 1 , wherein all support loads coupled to the metering structure are connected at a same radial distance from a central longitudinal axis.

6. The telescope support assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary mirror assembly includes a secondary mirror support, a secondary mirror held by the secondary mirror support, and a thermal shroud over the secondary mirror and the secondary mirror support.

7. The telescope support assembly according to claim 1 , wherein each of the second strut mounts connects to a primary mirror support, to base struts connected to a base, and to instrument struts connected to a housing for one or more instruments.

8. A method, comprising:

providing a telescope support assembly comprising:

a metering structure consisting of a triangular frame formed by three side beams and three rectangular end pieces, each of the end pieces connected between ends of two of the side beams and truncating one corner of a triangle formed by the respective side beams,

wherein the end pieces each include a top, a bottom, first and second opposing major surfaces extending between the respective top and bottom, and opposing side edges extending between the respective top and bottom and between the first and second major surfaces,

wherein the end pieces are each configured for connection of support loads,

wherein each side beam is connected at a first end to a side edge of a first of the end pieces and at a second end to a side edge of a second of the end pieces, and

wherein each end piece is connected to an end of a first of the side beams at a first of the side edges of the respective end piece and to an end of a second of the side beams at a second of the side edges of the respective end piece;

connecting secondary mirror struts supporting a secondary mirror assembly each to one of a plurality of first strut mounts, each first strut mount mounted on the metering structure at the top of one of the end pieces; and

connecting primary mirror struts supporting a primary mirror each to one of a plurality of second strut mounts, each second strut mount mounted on the metering structure at the bottom of one of the end pieces.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the tops of the end pieces extend above upper corners of the side beams.

10. The method according to claim 8 , wherein each of the side beams and each of the end pieces is formed by a tubular frame with stiffening shear panels.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein a height of each of the side beams is smaller in a central region of the respective side beam than at the ends of the respective side beam.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein all support loads coupled to the metering structure are connected at a same radial distance from a central longitudinal axis.

13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:

mounting a secondary mirror focus mechanism on the top of each one of the end pieces, wherein the secondary mirror assembly includes a secondary mirror support, a secondary mirror held by the secondary mirror support, a baffle surrounding the secondary mirror, and a thermal shroud over the secondary mirror and the secondary mirror support.

14. The method according to claim 8 , wherein each of the second strut mounts connects to a primary mirror support, to base struts connected to a base, and to instrument struts connected to a housing for one or more instruments.

15. A telescope support assembly, comprising:

a metering structure consisting of a triangular frame formed by three side beams and three rectangular end pieces, each of the end pieces connected between ends of two of the side beams and truncating one corner of a triangle formed by the respective side beams,

wherein the end pieces each include a top, a bottom, first and second opposing major surfaces extending between the respective top and bottom, and opposing side edges extending between the respective top and bottom and between the first and second major surfaces,

wherein the end pieces are each configured for connection of support loads,

wherein each side beam is connected at a first end to a side edge of a first of the end pieces and at a second end to a side edge of a second of the end pieces,

wherein each end piece is connected to an end of a first of the side beams at a first of the side edges of the respective end piece and to an end of a second of the side beams at a second of the side edges of the respective end piece;

a secondary mirror focus mechanism mounted on first strut mounts each mounted on the top of one of the end pieces;

secondary mirror struts mounted to the secondary mirror focus mechanism, the secondary mirror struts supporting a secondary mirror assembly including a secondary mirror support, a secondary mirror held by the secondary mirror support, a baffle surrounding the secondary mirror, and a thermal shroud over the secondary mirror and the secondary mirror support;

second strut mounts each mounted on the bottom of one of the end pieces;

primary mirror struts each connecting one of the second strut mounts to a primary mirror support;

base struts each connecting one of the second strut mounts to a base; and

instrument struts each connecting one of the second strut mounts to a housing for one or more instruments.

16. The telescope support assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the tops of the end pieces extend above upper corners of the side beams.

17. The telescope support assembly according to claim 15 , wherein each of the side beams and each of the end pieces is formed by a tubular frame with stiffening shear panels.

18. The telescope support assembly according to claim 15 , wherein a height of each of the side beams is smaller in a central region of the respective side beam than at the ends of the respective side beam.

19. The telescope support assembly according to claim 15 , wherein all support loads coupled to the metering structure are connected at a same radial distance from a central longitudinal axis.

20. The telescope support assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the base is a hexagonal frame.