Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center Collection
Name of Image:
Shell Separation for Mirror Replication
Full Description:
NASA's Space Optics Manufacturing Center has been working to expand our view of the universe via sophisticated new telescopes. The Optics Center's goal is to develop low-cost, advanced space optics technologies for the NASA program in the 21st century - including the long-term goal of imaging Earth-like planets in distant solar systems. To reduce the cost of mirror fabrication, Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has developed replication techniques, the machinery, and materials to replicate electro-formed nickel mirrors. Optics replication uses reusable forms, called mandrels, to make telescope mirrors ready for final finishing. MSFC optical physicist Bill Jones monitors a device used to chill a mandrel, causing it to shrink and separate from the telescope mirror without deforming the mirror's precisely curved surface.
Date of Image:
1999-04-01
Category:
Space Science
term:
Telescope
term:
Nickel Mirrors
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
Electro
facet_where:
Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC)
facet_when:
21st century
Reference Number:
MSFC-75-SA-4105-2C
MIX #:
9902718
NIX #:
MSFC-9902718
MSFC Negative Number:
9902718
UID:
SPD-MARSH-9902718
original url: