ADVANCED SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGIES INC — National Aeronautics and Space Administration SBIR Phase I: S2

Description

NASA seeks innovative tools and technologies that support and enhance the characterization of Large Aperture Mirrors (LAMs). These mirrors are used for space-based segmented large aperture telescopes as well as ground-based observatories. The need to characterize the complex dynamics of recently developed LAMs membrane mirror structures is key to their efficient design, balancing and effective operation in future systems. This proposal by Advanced Systems and Technologies, Inc. (ASamp;T) directly responds to the above NASA needs with a unique and comprehensive testing station that employs an architecture supporting multiple modalities of optical metrology tailored specifically for LAMs design. In this proposal, we describe a novel optical non-contact sensor concept with its architecture based on a Reconfigurable Optoelectronic Mirror Evaluation (ROME) technology that provides a local and global measurements to supportsnbsp;full dynamic characterization of membrane mirrors.nbsp;The unparalleled measurement capabilities incorporated in ROME system are uniquely suited to the new sensor technologies sought bynbsp; NASA for comprehensive LAM dynamics characterization. This proposal lays out a work plan leading towards a Phase II prototype instrument that will provide a complete test and evaluation platform for current and future NASA optical systems