PlaneWave’s RC700 was designed to fulfill the needs of demanding research, commercial, and defense applications. With Direct Drive motors on each axis, a small central obstruction (< 30 %), and optional GPS/PTP encoder synchronization and carbon fiber hard-shroud, the RC700 is an ideal platform for commercial entities within the laser communication and satellite laser ranging sectors. The RC700 is a latest generation laser communication telescope that has been designed to run for decades as the centerpiece of an optical ground station. Under such laser communication ground terminal use, the RC700 is virtually maintenance free, with the only parts in contact with another surface being the altitude and azimuth bearings, both of which are filled with cryogenic grease and sealed to prevent dust entering.
- 0.7-meter f/12 (8,410mm focal length) Ritchey-Chrétien optical design.
- Optimized central obstruction < 30 % for improved image contrast and optical fiber coupling efficiency.
- Dual Nasmyth focus ports, each capable of holding over 300 lbs, paired with a PlaneWave Interface 4 (PWI4) software controllable tertiary mirror for fast changes between multiple instrumentation packages.
- Direct-drive motors on each axis providing up to 50 degrees/second of smooth, fast, and virtually silent slewing of the telescope with zero backlash and zero periodic error.
- On-axis 26-bit absolute encoders coupled to each axis for precise pointing and stable LEO satellite tracking.
- Optional GPS/PTP encoder synchronization for precise time-stamping and carbon fiber hard-shroud for stray light mitigation.
- Secondary mirror focusing for increased instrumentation backfocus distance.
- Compatible with the Series-5 rotator for derotation.
- Space-frame design with optional Coudé Path.
- PointXP mount modelling software.
- *Optional piggyback DeltaRho 350 OTA and remote adjustable saddle sold separatel
PlaneWave RC700 (f/12) Ritchey-Chrétien Observatory System
- 0.7-meter f/12 (8,410mm focal length) Ritchey-Chrétien optical design.
- Optimized central obstruction < 30 % for improved image contrast and optical fiber coupling efficiency.
- Dual Nasmyth focus ports, each capable of holding over 300 lbs, paired with a PlaneWave Interface 4 (PWI4) software controllable tertiary mirror for fast changes between multiple instrumentation packages.
- Direct-drive motors on each axis providing up to 50 degrees/second of smooth, fast, and virtually silent slewing of the telescope with zero backlash and zero periodic error.
- On-axis 26-bit absolute encoders coupled to each axis for precise pointing and stable LEO satellite tracking.
- Optional GPS/PTP encoder synchronization for precise time-stamping and carbon fiber hard-shroud for stray light mitigation.
- Secondary mirror focusing for increased instrumentation backfocus distance.
- Compatible with the Series-5 rotator for derotation.
- Space-frame design with optional Coudé Path.
- PointXP mount modelling software.
- *Optional piggyback DeltaRho 350 OTA and remote adjustable saddle sold separately*
Optical System
Optical Design Ritchey-Chrétien Aperture 700 mm (27.56 inch) Focal Length 8,410 mm Focal ratio 12 Central Obstruction < 30 % of the primary mirror diameter Back Focus 317 mm (12.48 inch) from instrument mounting surface Weight 2,500 lbs Optical Tube Dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus Dimensions 92.25″ H x 52″ W x 36″ D Focus Position Nasmyth Focus Mechanical Structure
Fork Assembly Space-frame for maximum stiffness Optical Tube Dual truss structure with Nasmyth focus Motion Control
Motor Control Industrial grade Elmo brushless motor control system and built in electronics Azimuth Motor Direct drive 3 phase axial-flux torque motor Altitude Motor Direct drive 3 phase axial-flux torque motor Encoder – Azimuth and Altitude 255 mm stainless steel encoder ring with read-head yields 67.1 million counts per revolution of the telescope. This translates to about 0.019 arc-second resolution. Motor Torque Approximately 170 ft-lbs continuous (Azimuth motor) Drive Electronics Elmo Motion Control Systems drives Telescope Control Software PlaneWave Interface 4 (PWI4) Software. Incorporates PointXP mount modeling software and All Sky PlateSolve, both by Dave Rowe. Also includes automatic focusing, dew heater control, primary mirror cover control, dome control and provides HTTP and ASCOM control interfaces. Linux and Windows compatible. System Performance
Pointing Accuracy (all-sky RMS) 10 arcsecond RMS with PointXP Model Pointing Precision 2 arcseconds at sidereal velocity
Open Loop Tracking Accuracy < 0.2 arcseconds over a 10 seconds period at sidereal velocity
Azimuth Range of Motion 660 degrees Altitude Range of Motion 10 – 90 degrees Primary Mirror
Material Fused Silica Secondary Mirror
Material Fused Silica Tertiary Mirror
Material Fused Silica