PlaneWave RC700 (f/12) Ritchey-Chrétien Observatory System

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