Design, Analysis, and Additive Manufacturing of Silicon Carbide Telescopes with RadHard Coatings

During Phase I Goodman Technologies (GT) successfully performed a materials agnostic feasibility study for advanced telescope mirrors for endo- and exo-atmospheric environments. A database of optical system and materials vendors compiled over 3-decades of Ballistic Missile Defense Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) was used and included materials properties for GTÆs additively manufactured (AM) RoboSiC (silicon carbide nanocomposite). GTÆs Principal Investigator Dr. Goodman defined weighting parameters based upon key characteristics and requirements for kill vehicle seeker telescopes including figure accuracy, radiation tolerance, low coefficient of thermal expansion, high specific stiffness, and low thermal conductivity. Finite element analysis was performed and showed that RoboSiC mirror substrates would provide excellent performance, even better if manufactured in a hollow-core configuration. GT described 3 ways the RoboSiC mirror substrates could be manufactured to Missile Defense Agency (MDA) requirements via 3D printing and/or our Z-process. GT provided MDA with a new piece of intellectual property, a technology breakthrough, and performed a key technology demonstration where we reduced mirror substrate firing time by a factor of 8X. GT delivered a feasibility demonstrator mirror substrate made using the key technology demonstration. Finally, GT surveyed many of the key persons and facilities that would be required to validate a representative prototype mirror and provided a detailed summary of findings to the MDA, culminating in a Phase II plan and roadmap for validating the technology. In Phase II GT plans to design and manufacture mirrors with a RadHard coating to MDA specifications and provide these to System Prime supporter Lockheed Martin for environmental testing. With Lockheed Martin engineers on subcontract, we will be able to feed the innovative, multi-functional mirror design data into Lockheed MartinÆs and MDA system design codes and simulations to ascertain the increase in system capability. One or more iterations of the concept through Preliminary Design Review (PDR), Critical Design Review (CDR) and Manufacturing Readiness Review (MRR) will lead to manufacturing of a prototype that can be validated by GT with Lockheed Martin and the MDA. GT will also be assisted by non-profit Research Institution NewSpace New Mexico. Other uses for the technology include MDAÆs Hypersonics and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS). Approved for Public Release | 24-MDA-11673 (8 Jan 24)