SBIR-STTR Award

NASA is expending a significant amount of effort to develop large imaging telescope systems to explore the Evolution of the Universe (SEU). Adaptive optics will play a large role in these efforts because of the need to produce high quality imaging with lightweight optical systems. Adaptive optics allows the spacecraft designer to sacrifice traditional requirements with regard to weight and stiffness in order to make the spacecraft as light as possible. However, the adaptive systems must be compact and lightweight also. Normal AO systems utilize a series of discreet components to satisfy the correction requirements. These would consist of tip/tilt mirror and deformable mirrors. Xinetics has engaged in developing a series of integrated adaptive optical components that will improve the optical quality of traditional wavefront control systems while simultaneously reducing system volume, weight, and cost. The proposed effort is the result of a strategic vision to develop small robust wavefront control systems designed to be employed in spaced based optical systems. Xinetics proposes designing and building a 1024-ch integrated wavefront corrector using Photonex module technology and Xinetics cofired ceramic actuators.

One of the critical issues for NASA missions requiring high contrast astrophysical imaging such as Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) is wavefront control. Without use of appropriate adaptive optics technology, it is impossible to obtain high quality imaging. Normal adaptive optics systems utilize a series of discreet components to satisfy the correction requirements. These consist of tip/tilt mirror and deformable mirrors. Xinetics has engaged in developing series of deformable mirrors and integrated adaptive optical components that will improve the optical quality of traditional wavefront control systems while simultaneously reducing system volume, weight and cost. Our innovative integrated wavefront corrector will combine new types of deformable mirror, Photonex Meniscus, with tip/tilt stage with Xinetics co-fired ceramic actuators. The proposed effort is the result of a strategic vision to develop small robust wavefront corrector designed to be employed in space based optical systems.