With the improvement of spatial resolution, the focal length of space cameras and spectral imagers become longer. The thermal stability of image stability is more sensitive, with the temperature, especially in VNIR (visible and near-infrared). To solve the thermal stability of R-C(Ritchey-Chrétien) long focal length fore-Telescope system, the relevant factors are discussed, on the basis of the LASIS(Large Aperture Static Imaging Spectrometer), and the change in the spacing between primary mirror and secondary mirror with temperature is proposed. Base on the calculation in theory, the method of mechanical passive athermalization design is developed. Mechanical test results indicate that the first natural frequency is 195Hz, above the 100 Hz. The thermal experiments show that the stability of primary mirror and secondary mirror spacing is 0.5μm-1, consisting with the FEA(Finite Element Analysis) value © COPYRIGHT SPIE. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.