Session
Technical Session IV: New Hardware in Space
Abstract
There is a growing need for large aperture, ultralightweight, deployable optics (mirrors) for various science, military and commercial compact satellites (Pleimann 1997). This paper will examine the engineering and manufacturing considerations that must be addressed in order to satisfy the requirements for these sought after optics. In order to limit the scope of this paper, only Graphite Fiber Reinforced/Polymer Matrix Composites (GFR/PMC) will be under consideration because of the potential to satisfy ultralightweight mirror requirements (5 - 10 Kg/m2 ) (KasI1997). The requirements associated with specular mirror concepts that Composite Optics, Incorporated (COl) has proposed to Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/VS) and NASA Langley Research Center for visible range optics and LIDAR (light bucket) optics, respectively, will also be our interest. Moreover, it is the intent of this paper to illustrate how COl's proposed design/manufacturing concepts for visible and LIDAR optics have evolved based on overcoming, or working around, material constraints and/or undesirable characteristics associated with GFR/PMC.
Issues to be Addressed in the Design and Fabrication of Ultralightweight, Meter Class Optics
There is a growing need for large aperture, ultralightweight, deployable optics (mirrors) for various science, military and commercial compact satellites (Pleimann 1997). This paper will examine the engineering and manufacturing considerations that must be addressed in order to satisfy the requirements for these sought after optics. In order to limit the scope of this paper, only Graphite Fiber Reinforced/Polymer Matrix Composites (GFR/PMC) will be under consideration because of the potential to satisfy ultralightweight mirror requirements (5 - 10 Kg/m2 ) (KasI1997). The requirements associated with specular mirror concepts that Composite Optics, Incorporated (COl) has proposed to Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/VS) and NASA Langley Research Center for visible range optics and LIDAR (light bucket) optics, respectively, will also be our interest. Moreover, it is the intent of this paper to illustrate how COl's proposed design/manufacturing concepts for visible and LIDAR optics have evolved based on overcoming, or working around, material constraints and/or undesirable characteristics associated with GFR/PMC.
