A demisability analysis based on materials properties for space telescope mirrors

Abstract

The increasing menace of space debris, stimulated by the current explosion of the small satellite commercial sector, urges the implementation of effective strategies for debris mitigation. Among these, substituting critical materials with more demisable ones represents an appropriate action to reduce the survivability of the component. Yet, improvements in demisability are often associated to performance penalties. In this contribution, the important topic of design for demise in the framework of material selection for optical elements has been addressed. In accordance with the typical mechanical and thermal stability requirements applied to optical systems, relevant figures of merit for the selection of optical materials have been identified. These have been exploited to optimize the design, aiming for the concurrent minimization of mass and heat required for the ablation of the component. The analysis has been applied to the most common materials currently used to fabricate space mirrors, which constitute one of the fundamental components in optical instrumentation. The proposed approach represents a valuable asset for implementing effective and innovative solutions for the sustainable use of space, aiming to concurrently reduce the casualty risk while avoiding performance penalties.