Dimensionally Stable and Survivable Silicon Carbide Telescope for Next Generation STSS System

MDA, Raytheon and other DoD components are interested in Dimensionally Stable and Survivable Silicon Carbide Telescopes for the next generation of Space Tracking and Space Surveillance System (STSS). The requirements for the proposed athermal telescope are: operation in the Proton Belt (LEO, up to 1 Mrad Si total ionizing dose, TID), survive a nuclear event, optical performance across the 0.6-12 microns wavebands (VIS/MWIR/LWIR), and cryogenic operational temperatures from 150-220 K. The Principle Investigator successfully designed, manufactured and experimentally validated low emissivity, high reflectance, nuclear survivable VIS/NIR/LWIR seeker coatings on SiC mirrors under MDA Contracts #HQ0006-05-C-7149 and W9113M-07-C-0156, and dimensionally stable and survivable cryogenic coatings on SiC for MDA STSS Contract HQ0006-09-C-7121. This SBIR project series will support a conceptual Raytheon telescope design. We propose an advancement in CVC SiC material to demonstrate a rapidly fabricated and ultra-lightweight telescope that is athermal (70-350 K), survivable [1Mrad (Si) TID, and nuclear event] with VIS/MWIR/LWIR coating, and traceable to next generation STSS telescopes. We call the new material HoneySiC, a molded silicon carbide honeycomb which substantially eliminates mirror machining cost and schedule. In Phase II Trex will work with the government and Raytheon to fully qualify a prototype telescope.