ESA Open Invitation to Tender AO10287
Open Date: 12/05/2020
Closing Date: 07/07/2020 13:00:00

Status: ISSUED
Reference Nr.: 20.129.06
Prog. Ref.: Technology Developme
Budget Ref.: E/0901-01 – Technology Developme
Special Prov.: BE+DK+FR+DE+IT+NL+ES+SE+CH+GB+IE+AT+NO+FI+PT+GR+LU+CZ+RO+PL+EE+HU
Tender Type: C
Price Range: 200-500 KEURO
Products: Satellites & Probes / Payloads / Instruments / Optical Instruments / Optical Telescopes
Technology Domains: Optics / Optical Component Technology and Materials / Mirror and Telescope Technologies
Establishment: ESTEC
Directorate: Directorate of Tech, Eng. & Quality
Department: Mechanical Department
Division: Mechatronics and Optics Division
Contract Officer: Reinsoo, Anna
Industrial Policy Measure: C1 – Activities in open competition limited to the non-Larg…
Last Update Date: 12/05/2020
Update Reason: Tender issue

To study and demonstrate a new promising time-saving and cost-effective manufacturing process of ultralight mirrors (or mirror segments) by replication (including coating).For future large segmented telescopes (e.g. 12m diameter and more), the production of large number of 1-m class segments in a classical way (i.e. One at a time) will cause significant programmatic and technological risk which could be mitigated by manufacturing the segments with a novel efficient technology: segment replication (including coating).Similarly, for small satellite constellations for Earth Observation, replication of 100mm-300mm-class mirrors would dramatically reduce the cost of the mission as well as decrease the schedule risk due to classical manufacturing timeline.Additionally, for both of these applications, mass will likely be a mission driver, requiring ultra-lightweight mirrors. The replication process shall therefore be able to comply with mirror/segment mass constraints.In order to pave the way for mirror manufacturing by replication for the usage from near to far infrared (and visible as best effort), this activity will study the replica of sandwich mirrors (including coating) limited to 30cm in diameter, CFRP-based. The optical quality and reflectivity of a breadboard mirror will be characterised and its behaviour in environment will be tested.This study is a prerequisite for the development of large segmented active space mirrors manufactured from CFRP but is also applicable to smaller instruments produced in series.This activity encompasses the following tasks:- to study the replication process of CFRP-based mirrors (covering substrate, cladding, active surface and coating).- to manufacture and characterize (e.g. Surface quality, reflectivity and environmental tests i.e. Both thermal vacuum and vibration) a 30cm mirror demonstrator.- to provide a roadmap for the maturation of the replication technology, both for 30cm-class mirrors and for larger mirrors for use in segmented or monolithic architectures.Procurement Policy: C(1) = Activity restricted to non-prime contractors (incl. SMEs). For additional information please go to EMITS news „Industrial Policy measures for non-primes, SMEs and RD entities in ESA programmes”.