Advanced Materials for Lightweight Space-Based Mirrors

"This program will provide meter class CERAFORM Silicon Carbide mirrors with an areal density of < 2 kg/mm2 for use in space based laser and surveillance systems. Providing larger, stiffer structures, CERAFORM SiC provides optical, structural and thermalproperties which exceed that of the glasses such as Zerodur and ULE, the composites such as graphite epoxy, and the metals such as aluminum and beryllium. Recent developments in SiC forming have produced SiC mirrors with areal density of < 7.5 kg/mm2 withthe potential to achieve an areal density of < 2 kg/mm2. These will provide the needed optical material for the next generation of flight based optical systems providing significant technical advantage over current material and fabrication techniques.Phase I will provide a representative-scale demonstration article, a set of designs, performance predictions and manufacturing plans for the meter class SiC mirror. Phase II will fabricate a 1 meter scale demonstration article, designed to have wall andfacesheet thickness commensurate with the 2 kg/mm2. Critical performance requirements of low temperature thermal response and structural response to launch loads and low level dynamic environment will be among the properties of the test article to bedemonstrated. Mirrors for NASA based missions such as Next Generation Space Systems (NGSS) and Space Infra Red Telescope Facility (SIRTF) Lightweight stiff mirror applications, including hi