Abstract
The presented paper shows results from the mechanical design of lightweight mirrors for space applications, where demand for maximum weight loss goes together with demands for sufficient strength, shape accuracy, and surface quality of optical surfaces. The paper illustrates the material properties of different materials, which are often used for manufacturing precise optics. It compares three materials – e.g. optical glass such as NFS-15, optical ceramic such as Zerodur, and Silicon-infiltrated sintered Silicon Carbide – from the point of view of suitability for machining and their mechanical and thermal properties. It also shows the possibility of mass reduction by using different geometries of lightweight structure. Paper shows the results of numerical simulations of specified load-cases and comparison of different lightweight structures and different materials with respect to their strength and stiffness.
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