TPF-C Technology Plan - Exoplanet Exploration Program - NASA

Introduction
estimates. At this time a full test at flight levels of the instrument assembly, consisting of the
starlight suppression system, is planned. A full test of the optical telescope assembly (OTA) is
planned and the nature of this test is being evaluated. A programmatic end-to-end performance
gate will be defined as part of the I&T plan.
In order to respond to changing priorities, this Technology Plan will be updated yearly with the
first update to occur in March of 2006. Modifications to this document may result from a
combination of factors: shifting instrument error allocations, changing risk prioritization, shifting
budget priorities, and the challenge of performing state-of-the-art technical work on a tight
schedule. Approvals for revised versions of the Plan will be obtained prior to issuance.
1.10 TPF-C High-level Technology Milestones
Three significant technology milestones have been set to gauge the developmental progress of
the project and have been imposed as a requirement for the project to proceed from pre-Phase A
to Phase A. Completion of the milestones is documented by the project, reviewed by the TPF-
TAC and HQ, and approved by HQ. Listed below, these pre-Phase A milestones focus on
demonstrating the critical technologies and the feasibility of the mission. The critical
technologies for TPF-C have been identified as starlight suppression in both narrow and broad
bands.
Milestone #1: Starlight Suppression
Demonstrate that the High Contrast Imaging Testbed (HCIT) is capable of achieving a baseline
contrast of 1 × 10 -9 (goal 1 × 10 -10 ) at a 4 λ/D inner working angle, at λ=785 nm, and stable for
at least one hour.
Planned Completion Date: Q3 FY05
Milestone #2: Broadband Starlight Suppression
Demonstrate that the HCIT is capable of achieving a baseline contrast of 1 × 10 -9 (goal 1 × 10 -10 )
at a 4 λ/D inner working angle over a 60-nm bandpass (goal 100 nm) with the center wavelength
in the range of 0.5 µm to 0.8 µm.
Planned Completion Date: Q3 FY06
Milestone #3: Model Validation and Performance Feasibility
3A: Demonstrate that starlight suppression performance predictions from high-fidelity optical
models of the HCIT, utilizing measured data on specific testbed components, are consistent with
actual measured results on the testbed. Correlation of model predictions with experimental
testbed results validates models at a baseline contrast ratio of better than 1 × 10 -9 (goal 1 × 10 -10 )
over a 60-nm bandwidth.
Planned Completion Date: Q4 FY06
17