To study the EACs and probe parameter space including consideration of future large rockets, our team defined three EACs shown in Figure 5. EAC 1 is an off-axis telescope architecture (secondary mirror does not obscure the aperture) with a 6 m inscribed primary mirror diameter and a 7.2 m outer diameter using hexagonal segments. EAC 2 has a 6 m circular aperture using keystone segments and is also off-axis. EAC 3 is on-axis and 8 m outer diameter with keystone segments.
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Conclusions
Significant progress has been made initiating the HWO TMPO, creating a detailed HWO Technology Plan, assessing EACs 1-3, defining EAC4 and 5, and progressing the detailed understanding of the system. At this point, the team has achieved all of the goals set out to achieve CML3 as summarized in this paper. Other collective CML3 artifacts held by HTMPO further defines this progress but activities towards CML4 including definition of EAC and 5 has already commenced.
The team continues to focus on error budgets, concepts of operation, technology specification and is ready to make major investments in technology. Overall, the architecture has converged to be a 6 - 8 m off-axis telescope, whose primary mirror is segmented, that is housed in a serviceable, room-temperature observatory. Over the coming two years, EAC4 and 5 will be studied and traded to enable a final single baseline concept at MCR.
