Replicating Active Thin Mirrors (JPL)

Completed TRL 3 (started at 1, targeting 3)

Description

Goddard: produce next generation slumped glass substrates. Initially 4' to improve the process and continue AAReST mission support. Switch to 8' diameters to show the scalability of the technology for future missions. JPL: manufacture DM's from substrates in the Micro Devices Lab. Caltech/JPL/Goddard: independently measure and verify mirror shapes. Caltech: mirror functional testing and thermal-vac stability testing.

Benefits

AAReST mission is the primary customer for this technology. Technology could be ported to other telescopes that require active mirror for wavefront corrections.

Details

Technology area	Sensors and Instruments > Observatories > Mirror Systems
Program	Center Innovation Fund: JPL CIF (JPL CIF)
Lead organization	Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA
Start date	2015-10-01
End date	2016-09-30

Project contacts

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

Keith D Patterson — keith.d.patterson@jpl.nasa.gov
Sergio Pellegrino — sergio.pellegrino@jpl.nasa.gov
Shawn M Bongiorno — shawn.m.bongiorno@nasa.gov

How to get involved

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — 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.