Active Full-Shell X-Ray Optics, Year 1

Completed TRL 4 (started at 3, targeting 4)

Description

Active full-shell x-ray optics is a concept where surface-parallel, electrostrictive actuators are bonded to replicated-nickel, full-shell, x-ray optics to create global slope changes, which are necessary to switch between prescriptions as well as correct low-spatial frequency error. Using an analytical point design, a hardware prototype will be designed, built, tested and analyzed. Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO) has developed active segmented optics, however, the active components of the full-shell point design create a much larger and global optical displacement, enabling them to switch between prescriptions and correct global figure error. The next step after this year's work is to apply for Astrophysics Research and Analysis (APRA) funding.

Benefits

The objective of active full-shell x-ray optics is to switch between a wide-field (surveying ) prescription and a narrow-field (pointing) prescription, which has never been done before and will allow for a single observatory to have both capabilities. This would offer a great science advantage for the x-ray astronomy community and could potentially result in many millions of dollars of savings to NASA.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Observatories > Mirror Systems
Program	Center Innovation Fund: MSFC CIF (MSFC CIF)
Lead organization	Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL
Start date	2020-10-01
End date	2021-09-30

Project contacts

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

Jacqueline M Davis

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.