Technical Approach For The Development Of Structural Composite Mirrors

Robert E. Freeland; Paul M. McElroy; Robert D. Johnston

doi:10.1117/12.960845

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20 September 1989 Technical Approach For The Development Of Structural Composite Mirrors

Robert E. Freeland, Paul M. McElroy, Robert D. Johnston

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Proceedings Volume 1114, Active Telescope Systems; (1989) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.960845
Event: SPIE 1989 Technical Symposium on Aerospace Sensing, 1989, Orlando, FL, United States

Abstract

Light weight, high precision, low cost structural composite mirrors have tremendous potential for enabling affordable space telescope systems. The Large Deployable Reflector (LDR) is an example of such a system. It is a 20 meter diameter, earth orbiting submillimeter telescope. Its technology requirements are for panels that are from 1 to 2 meters in size with areal densities of 5 to 10 Kg/m² and surface figure precision of a few microns. JPL and the Hexcel Corp. have entered into a joint technology activity, sponsored by the NASA Precision Segmented Reflector (PSR) Program, for the development of such mirrors. Highly specialized manufacturing and materials processing techniques have been developed by Hexcel for the production of high precision, light weight and low cost composite mirrors. JPL has developed an analytical simulation capability for composite mirrors that characterizes their mechanipal and thermal performance in terms of the materials properties and configurations. This capability is the basis of detail panel designs for thermal stability, test simulation, test/analysis correlation and projection of performance for specific applications. This combination of capabilities from both organizations has resulted in the development of graphite/epoxy mirrors up to 1.0 meter in size with surface precision of a few microns rms while weighing only 6 Kg/m². This paper describes that development program. The PSR Panel Program, over a four year period is for mirrors up to 1.5 meters with surface precision and LDR orbital thermal stabilities on the order of one micron.

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Robert E. Freeland, Paul M. McElroy, and Robert D. Johnston "Technical Approach For The Development Of Structural Composite Mirrors", Proc. SPIE 1114, Active Telescope Systems, (20 September 1989); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.960845

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