Large Scale Cleaning Telescope Mirrors with Electron Beams Project

Completed TRL 4 (started at 1, targeting 4)

Description

The Cleaning Lenses and Mirrored Surface with Electrons is a technology developed to provide access to large lenses and mirror structures and providing a low risk technique for cleaning their surfaces.

The Cleaning Lenses and Mirrored Surfaces with Electrons tasks include: Development of Fractal Wand Geometries; Vacuum Chamber testing for Fractal Wand Prototypes; and selection of best prototype.

Benefits

JWST, Micro Shutters, and MMS.

Any mission in the future with lenses and mirrors.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Observatories > Mirror Systems
Program	Center Independent Research & Development: GSFC IRAD (GSFC IRAD)
Lead organization	Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD
Start date	2010-10-01
End date	2013-09-30

Project contacts

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

Brook Lakew — brook.lakew@nasa.gov
Fred A Minetto — fred.a.minetto@nasa.gov
John G Hagopian — john.g.hagopian@nasa.gov
Sharon A Straka — sharon.a.straka@nasa.gov

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.