Space Qualified, Fast Steering Mirror (SQ_FSM)

Many steering mirrors have been developed over the years, but never has one been explicitly designed for high dose radiation environments or long-term space operations. As a result, deployed spaced based optical systems for line-of-sight stabilization or beam control have not benefited from the higher bandwidth control and better error rejection that can result from designs incorporating fast steering mirrors. In a successful Phase I SBIR effort, ATA began the development of a 5" space qualified, fast steering mirror (SQ_FSM) by demonstrating a breadboard version of a radiation hardened, high accuracy position sensor; ATA also began developing and analyzing an innovative mechanical design that addresses thermal management and residual reaction torque, which are critical in a space environment. This Phase II proposal will advance the SQ_FSM Optical Unit design to CDR level, develop innovative radiation hardened position sensor and actuator designs, and design, build and test an SQ_FSM Engineering Development Unit (EDU) suitable for laboratory performance verification.