Low Cost, Cosmic Microwave Background Telescopes (P-NASA12-003-1)

Existing and proposed missions with ambitious science goals demand ever larger primary mirrors which, in turn, require the development of new light-weight, low-cost mirror technologies. For Phase 2, Vanguard Space Technologies (VST) proposes to deliver a 2.5 meter, composite, on-axis, telescope by building upon the success of the Phase I effort. The telescope will be suitable for use on the Super BLAST-pol mission. VST proposes building upon the success and leveraging the lessons learned from previous technology demonstration programs, leading to a successful CDR that includes a final design with budgeted errors, a detailed manufacturing plan, and a mature recurring cost model and estimate. A CDR package and one high efficiency telescope system will be provided during Phase II. The envisioned telescope system will feature 2X lower areal mass and comparable areal cost for Unit Two+ than BLAST. The Super BLAST-pol team at UPenn is committed to flight test this new technology on the maiden flight in 2016.