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The Star Formation Camera (SFC) is a wide-field (~15'x19, >280 arcmin^2), high-resolution (18x18 mas pixels) UV/optical dichroic camera designed for the Theia 4-m space-borne space telescope concept. SFC will deliver diffraction-limited images at lambda > 300 nm in both a blue (190-517nm) and a red (517-1075nm) channel simultaneously. Our aim is to conduct a comprehensive and systematic study of the astrophysical processes and environments relevant for the births and life cycles of stars and their planetary systems, and to investigate and understand the range of environments, feedback mechanisms, and other factors that most affect the outcome of the star and planet formation process. This program addresses the origins and evolution of stars, galaxies, and cosmic structure and has direct relevance for the formation and survival of planetary systems like our Solar System and planets like Earth. We present the design and performance specifications resulting from the implementation study of the camera, conducted under NASA's Astrophysics Strategic Mission Concept Studies program, which is intended to assemble realistic options for mission development over the next decade. The result is an extraordinarily capable instrument that will provide deep, high-resolution imaging across a very wide field enabling a great variety of community science as well as completing the core survey science that drives the design of the camera. The technology associated with the camera is next generation but still relatively high TRL, allowing a low-risk solution with moderate technology development investment over the next 10 years. We estimate the cost of the instrument to be $390M FY08., Comment: 17 pages - Activity White Paper for the Astro2010 Decadal Survey Subcommittee on Programs

Proposed telescope offers wide field of view, yet relatively inexpensive to manufacture. Design, in form of three Schmidt cameras, offers 10-degree strip field of view, single large-diameter collecting aperture, four spherical mirrors, and two diamond-turned aspheric mirrors in relatively compact configuration. Transference of large-diameter Schmidt corrector plate to smaller element makes this wide-field optical system suitable for application of two-stage optics theory. Concept enables cost-effective implementation of large-diameter optics by relaxing fabrication requirements.

The Precision Segmented Reflector (PSR) program currently under way at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory is a test bed and technology demonstration program designed to develop and study the structural and material technologies required for lightweight, precision segmented reflectors. A Figure Verification Sensor (FVS) which is designed to monitor the active control system of the segments is described, a best fit surface is defined, and an image or wavefront quality of the assembled array of reflecting panels is assessed

Excellent results for optimization of one all-reflective system are gained by choosing a limited number of variables as indicated by vector aberration theory. An aberration analysis shown here can be used to extend the method to other systems.