RCOS 20 inch "Ruggedized" Carbon / Nomex Telescope

Twin 20s at Vandenberg AFB on a Photo-Sonics Cine-Sextant Mobile Tracking Mount

Twin 20 inch RCOS "Ruggedized" Carbon / Nomex Ritchey-Chrétiens on a Photo-Sonics Cine-Sextant mobile tracking mount at Vandenberg AFB.

Tracking a Boeing 747 at approximately 36,000 feet

March 16, 2006 - High Speed Video of a Boeing 747-200 at approximately 36,000 feet using an RC Optical Systems Military 20RC with a Photo-Sonics DCR655 CMOS Camera imaging at 250 frames per second. This aircraft was acquired and tracked manually using a Photo-Sonics Cine-Sextant Mobile Tracking Mount. Post processing by Richard Bennion of CCDWare.

20 inch (0.51 meter) Ritchey-Chrétien Specifications
  • 20 inch Ritchey-Chrétien, Super Ritchey Chrétien, Classical Cassegrain, Dall-Kirkham, Mersenne (Afocal) optics certified to customers requirements for use from 100nm to 12 microns. Fringe analysis and supporting interferometric data supplied with each optical set.
  • Optical Design work available for UV to IR.
  • Zero Expansion ULE or Zerodur substrate for both primary and secondary mirrors.
  • Protected Aluminum (PAL), Silver, Gold or Dielectric coatings for the highest reflectivity possible in specified wave band.
  • RCOS proprietary Mirror support and Back Plane assembly for stable optical performance in all parts of the sky.
  • Low Expansion, light weight Carbon/Nomex "Ruggedized" Tube for superior performance and stability.
  • 6061/7075 Aluminum and Titanium Components - All CNC Machined.
  • Precision Secondary Mirror Focuser.
  • 2-Stage Primary mirror baffle with internal knife-edge light stops.
  • Secondary conical light baffle.
  • Active Cooling (positive pressure when required).
  • RCOS "Focus and Forget" Technology.
  • Shipped fully assembled, collimated, and ready to use.
  • Custom mounting options for Cine-Sextant, KTM or APS gimbals.
  • Options for bayonet carbon sun shield.
  • Bayonet style tube end ring (aluminum).
  • Bayonet style dust cover.
  • Optional rear cell instrumentation cover (cooled).
 Base Price Call
Delivery Status Call
Focal Length Order to Spec
Overall Length/Diameter Order to Spec
Total Weight* Order to Spec
System (typical) f4 - f/16
Primary Focal Length Order to Spec
Back Focus Order to Spec
Secondary Amplification Order to Spec
Radius of Field Curvature Order to Spec
Secondary Size Order to Spec
Primary Hole Order to Spec