The automatic astrophysical observatory ASTRON (Crimean Observatory) was launched into a highly elliptical orbit on March 23, 1983 by a Proton launch vehicle. The main instrument of the observatory is a UV telescope–spectrometer with a main mirror diameter of 800 mm. The goal is to study the spectra of stars, nebulae and galaxies up to magnitude 15 in the ultraviolet (1100…3500 Å) and X-ray wavelength ranges.
The ASTRON spacecraft was created at the Lavochkin Research and Production Association (Moscow) on the basis of the Venera-15 automatic interplanetary station.
- The optics of the Spika telescope were developed and manufactured at CrAO, under the leadership of Doctor of Physics and Mathematics N.V. Steshenko,
- The design of the telescope was developed and manufactured at the NPO named after. Lavochkin, under the guidance of Ph.D. A.A. Moisheeva
- The ultraviolet spectrometer was designed and manufactured by the Laboratory of Space Astronomy (LAS, Marseille, France).
- The precision tracking system (under the code “OKO Complex. Secondary Control Circuit”) was developed and manufactured at SKB “Granit” (Ministry of Defense Industry of the USSR, Garni, Armenian SSR). Head of SKB – Ph.D. Yu.M. Khojayants, Leading designer – Ph.D. A. Z. Zakharyan.
Monitoring by central sensor.
30% of the light from the star under study with brightness from -1 to 8 magnitude is used. Tracking accuracy ± 0.25 arc. sec.
For the study of faint stars (up to 15th magnitude), as well as extended objects and backgrounds. Tracking with an offset sensor according to a star with brightness from -1 to 8.7 magnitude.
Image stabilization accuracy is no worse than ±1.8 arcsec.
The Astron station actively operated in orbit for more than 6 years, instead of the assigned warranty period of one year. This is a record among Soviet unmanned spacecraft. During this time, 625 communications were carried out with the station, most of them were work with the Spica telescope.
Ultraviolet observations included continuous spectrum photometry and studies of nonstationary stars, observations of galaxies, and nebulae. At the same time, the guiding system kept images at the spectrometer input with an accuracy of better than ± (0.1 … 0.2) arcsec in the direct guiding mode and better than ± 1.5 arcsec in the offset guiding mode, up to 3-5 hours continuously in each session.
Feedback on the work of the OKO complex
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Scientific and Production Association named after S. A. Lavochkin | Crimean Astrophysical Observatory of the USSR Academy of Sciences | Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR |
Publications:
- Boyarchuk A.A., Gershberg R.E., Granitskij L.V., Kovtunenko V.M., Krmoyan M.N., Cruvellier P., Courtes G., Pronik V.I., Severnyj A.B., Tovmassian H.M., Khodzhayanst Yu.M. and Hua S.T. The Ultraviolet Telescope of the Astrophisical Station Astron, Pis’ma Astron. Zh., vol.10, No.2, 1984
- Boyarchuk A.A., Khodzhayanst Yu.M,; Tovmassian H.M., Krmoyan M.N., Granitskij L.V., Harutynian E.A, Zakharian A.Z., Gasparian O.N., Kashin A.L., Nalbandian E.A., The orientation and stabilization system of the ASTRON spaceship ultraviolet telescope, Byurakan Observatory Report, vol. LVI, 1985.
- Boyarchuk A.A., Ultraviolet supervision at station ASTRON, Vestnik Akademii Nauk SSSR, 8, pp. 16-20, 1984 (in Russian).
- Harutyunian Sh.M., Zakharian A.Z., Beliy E.B., Hakopian C.K., Kashin A.L., Guid¬ance and control of the high precision stabilization system of the space ultraviolet tele¬scope ASTRON, Byurakan Observatory Report, vol. LVI, 1985.
- Harutyunyan S.A., Vekilian R.H., Grigorian K.G., Zakarian A. Z., Krmoyan M.N., Tagianosian A.R., The Star Sensors of the “Astron” Ultraviolet Telescope Stabiization System, Byurakan Observatory Report, vol. LVI, 1985.
- O.N.Gasparian, A.Z.Zakharian, G.G.Yegiazarian. ASTRON Space Station Telescope Image Fine Stabilization System Dynamics Analysis. Comm. Byurakan Obs., 56, 18, 1985.
- O.N.Gasparian, A.Z.Zakharian, W.A.Khachatrian, A.S.Kazarian, G.G.Yegiazarian. Digital Simulation of the ASTRON Space Station Telescope Fine Stabilization System. Comm. Byurakan Obs., 56, 24, 1985.
- O.N.Gasparian. Analysis of Self-Oscillations and Frequency Response Quality Induces of the ASTRON Space Telescope Image Fine Stabilization System. Comm. Byurakan Obs., 56, 31, 1985.
- E.A.Nalbandian, D.Huguenen, E.G.Kakossian, Yu.M.Simoniants, S.K.Mnatsakanian. Field Camera of the ASTRON Space Telescope. Comm. Byurakan Obs., 56, 48, 1985.
Last Updated on 2025.01.10