System performance model and error budget for MAXIM

The proposed Micro-Arcsecond X-ray Imaging Mission (MAXIM) uses an array of spacecraft containing grazing incidence optics to create and acquire an image on a distant detector spacecraft. Among the technical challenges facing the mission, maintaining an acceptably small wavefront error in the optical system is addressed in this paper. Starting with a performance model for the observatory and both analytically- and raytrace-based optical sensitivities to misalignment and figure error, an error budget is constructed that includes the effects of the individual optical surfaces, the alignment of the optical elements within the 4-mirror periscope sub-assemblies, and the relative alignment of the many periscopes that make up the MAXIM optical imaging system. At this stage of conceptual development, the allocations to different sub-systems that affect wavefront error is based on the philosophy of "spreading the pain" associated with performance requirements of the contributing elements. The performance model and error budget become tools with which to explore different architectures and requirements allocations as the mission concept develops.