High Performance Computing-Accelerated Metrology for Large Optical Telescopes

NASA has unique non-contact precision metrology requirements for dimensionally inspecting the global position and orientation of large and highly-polished multi-segmented mirrors (in an as-installed configuration), such as those used on the James Webb Space Telescope. SURVICE Metrology has assembled a world-class team of metrologists and optical physicists to develop M-TEC, an innovative non-contact metrology solution that extends traditional deflectometry for determining reflective-surface profiles by combining pattern matching and high performance computing techniques. In addition to our in-house staff of experts in metrology and optics, our team includes industry-recognized academic experts in metrology. Our solution has demonstrated the ability to accurately measure the global position and orientation of mirror segments in an as-installed configuration using non-contact means from a safe distance to allow measurements to be made with minimal risk to the asset. SURVICE proposes to further research and develop the technology under the Phase II effort, culminating with a fully-functional and validated prototype.

This NASA SBIR will provide opportunities to advance the state-of-the-art in metrology solutions applicable to large, segmented mirrors. This includes high-precision optics used by the Department of Defense, which is a key market SURVICE will explore and exploit in Phase III commercialization efforts. With segmented mirrors being the likely or preferred type of construction for most future large optical telescopes, there will be many opportunities to employ the SURVICE metrology solution on NASA and European telescope programs, to include the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), the Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST), and the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).

The manufacturing of DoD, NASA, and international space program telescopes is performed by numerous Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) firms. These firms support a broad spectrum of customers that include but are not limited to the NASA. SURVICE has already identified both US and international partners that are interested in the proposed technology development.

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.

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.