Develop and/or Improve Optical Coating Processes for Military Mirrors

A space-saving, economical, collapsible alternative to rigid sunshades-and particularly a replacement for beryllium sunshades-for the protection of optical coatings and heat seeking sensors on kinetic kill vehicles and similar equipment. The bellows sunshade is a self-deploying, non-toxic, titanium, all metallic, non-outgassing cylindrical shield that can expand up to twelve times its stowed length and lock permanently to reduce thermal optical distortion and increase infrared signal-to-noise ratio. In the stowed condition, it can double as an impermeable wall to retain high vacuum protection of optical systems for ten years or more. Other areas of application include shielding of satellite optical systems and compact, hand-held optical apparatus. A legacy version of the concept has proven reliable in twenty years of military surveillance satellite service.