Affordable, Precision Reflector Mold Technology (PDRT08-029), Phase I

Advances in replication mold technology that reduce material costs, grinding time, and polishing time would enable fabrication of large, precision molds and possibly optics at 50-75% lower cost. Mold cost savings could be applied to other aspects of a telescope mission's technology development and demonstration efforts to reduce large aperture far infrared telescope areal density and improve optical technical performance.

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.