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Free Form Mirrors for Ultra Compact High Speed Optical Systems Project

Completed TRL 5 (started at 2, targeting 5)

Description

This task is to collaboratively design and fabricate the free-form WIRIS telescope primary mirror with our partner Zygo as a technology demonstration. Fabricating the primary is challenging as it has 865 um of aspheric departure and is not rotationally symmetric.

Benefits

Compact fast, wide-field telescopes can be used in diverse space and terrestrial applications including: astrophysics, earth observing, planetary science, reconnaissance.

Details

Technology areaSensors and Instruments > Observatories > Mirror Systems
ProgramCenter Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF)
Lead organizationJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Start date2013-10-01
End date2014-09-30

Project contacts

Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.