ESA Open Invitation to Tender: 1-11354
Open Date: 23/09/2022 15:48 CEST
Closing Date: 04/11/2022 13:00 CEST

To study, manufacture and test a monolithic mirror concept based on ultra-lightweighted honeycomb structure with optical facesheet.The concept of using honeycomb structures with optical face sheets to produce ultra-lightweight optical mirrors has been explored with very early small-scale breadboarding. Theoretically able to reach areal density below the 10kg/m2, the use of such a drastic weight reduction technology for large mirrors located in an optical system entrance cavity (e.g. scan mirror, primary mirror) would bean enabling key factor in the production of large monolithic mirrors usable for EO missions, thereby securing high-resolution imaging capability for space systems in e.g. geostationary orbit.Currently the level of lightweighting needed for such large missions is reaching the limit of classical techniques and decreasing optical performances due to lightweighting side-effects, causing mission concepts to adopt active correction capabilities which could be simplified by using lighter and stiffer primary mirrors.This activity encompasses the following tasks::- To study the materials choice, optomechanical design, manufacturing process- To manufacture and test a breadboard mirror to validate the concept- To build a technological roadmap aiming at TRL6 maturity for 2+m class mirrors for optical missions.

Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. Quality
Estabilishment: ESTEC
ECOS Required: No
Classified: No
Price Range: > 500 KEURO
Authorised Contact Person: Anna Reinsoo
Initiating Service: TEC-MMO
IP Measure: N/A
Prog. Reference: E/0901-01 - Technology Developme
Tender Type: Open Competition
Open To Tenderers From: AT+BE+CH+CZ+DE+DK+EE+GR+ES+FI+FR+GB+HU+IE+IT+LU+NL+NO+PL+PT+RO+SE
Technology Keywords: 16-B-III-Mirror and Telescope Technologies
Products Keywords: 2-I-2-a-Telescopes / 2-I-3-d-Lidars / 2-I-3-f-Optical Telescopes