Lightweight ZERODUR: a cost-effective thermally stable approach to both large and small spaceborne telescopes

Tony Hull; Thomas Westerhoff

doi:10.1117/12.2050997

24 June 2014 Lightweight ZERODUR: a cost-effective thermally stable approach to both large and small spaceborne telescopes

Tony Hull, Thomas Westerhoff

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9070, Infrared Technology and Applications XL; 90702D (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050997
Event: SPIE Defense + Security, 2014, Baltimore, MD, United States

Abstract

ZERODUR^®, known as the “gold standard” material for systems which require dimensional stability in the presence of gradients and transients, is now available lightweighted to the 85% to 90% level for use in high performance spaceborne telescopes and sensor systems. This establishes a design option that may have cost, testability, performance and risk advantages for an entire sensor system payload. The technical approach to making these primary mirrors is the same, whether the aperture is <0.3m to <4.0m. Since each mirror blank is made from a single monolithic billet of near zero-expansion, isotropic and homogeneous ZERODUR^® material, the resulting mirror is very stable over a wide range of scenes and orbits, with minimal to no need for ancillary thermal stability and wavefront sensing and control systems. Telescopes using ZERODUR^® and low expansion metering structures can accommodate thermal design challenges of both non-thermal (UV, VIS, LLLTV, NIR, SWIR and mm) and thermal (MWIR, LWIR) imaging systems, and deliver optimal performance. This lightweight mirror technology is discussed, with actual examples by SCHOTT of 0.3m and 1.2m mirrors presented. Lightweight ZERODUR^® mirrors offer superior optical performance, attractive cost and aggressive lead times, and are available to present and future spaceborne sensor trades.

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Tony Hull and Thomas Westerhoff "Lightweight ZERODUR: a cost-effective thermally stable approach to both large and small spaceborne telescopes", Proc. SPIE 9070, Infrared Technology and Applications XL, 90702D (24 June 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2050997

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