tel: 301 286 0690
fax: 301 286 0204
E-mail:
Joseph.M.Howard@nasa.gov
Area of Expertise
Unobstructed reflective optic systems
Biography
Joseph M. Howard received his Ph.D. in Optics at The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, and continued his research in optical design of unobstructed reflective optic systems for space optics applications as a Research Associate for the National Research Council at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, MD. His is now a full-time NASA employee at Goddard, and serves as lead optical designer for the James Webb Space Telescope, an orbiting infrared observatory that will take the place of the Hubble Space Telescope. Joe lives with his wife and two children in Washington DC.
Lecture Title(s)
Optical Design and Education Using Graphical Slider Tools
Optical design tools are presented to provide automatic generation of reflective optical systems for educational use. The tools are graphical in nature and use an interactive slider interface with freely available optical design software. Operation of the sliders provides input to adjust first-order and other system parameters (e.g. focal length), while appropriate system construction parameters are automatically updated to correct aberrations. Graphical output is also presented in real-time (e.g. a lens drawing) to provide the opportunity for a truly visual approach to optical design. Available systems include two- and three- mirror telescopes, relays, and afocal systems, either rotationally symmetric or having just a plane of symmetry. Demonstrations are presented.
NASA's Future Space Telescopes
A summary of NASA's current and future space telescopes is given, including the Hubble Space Telescope, James Webb Space Telescope and Terrestrial Planet Finder missions. Science goals and technology requirements are discussed.
