Metamaterials Replacing Beryllium using Architected Materials

Beryllium (Be) substrates enable lightweight, dimensionally stable optics for spaceborne lidar telescopes, however, impose long lead times, high cost, and supply risk. This IRAD proposes to mature and scale an additively manufactured (AM) metamaterials substrate that delivers Be-like thermomechanical performance for meter-class lidar telescope optics using readily available alloys. Building on a recent Journal from Imaging Science & Technology (JIST) by Souk et al., 2026, which demonstrated a scalable metamaterial architecture using Al6061 RAM2. This metamaterial design process achieving within 2 µm surface deformation of a Be I 220H control with only 10% mass increase and at >90% reductions in cost and lead time. Our team suggests extending the design, manufacturing, and verification approach to telescope-relevant scales and environments.

Scale AM Al6061 RAM2 metamaterial substrate to telescope-relevant scales; within 2 µm surface deformation matching Be I-220H control; >90% reduction in cost and lead time; only 10% mass increase vs. beryllium; eliminates supply chain risk for meter-class lidar telescope optics.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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