Abstract

Ultra stable ceramics mirrors are still widely used for space mirrors application both for earth imaging applications and climate monitoring missions. The demands for extreme light-weighting mirrors are still further pushing the limits of glass machining technology and this trend is well illustrated by the primary mirror of the receiving channel of the MERLIN telescope, one of the most critical component of this mission devoted to the monitoring of the methane concentration in the Earth atmosphere. In the field of silicon carbide mirrors, Safran Reosc has delivered to Airbus Defence the highly aspheric freeform mirrors of the MICROCARB telescope to achieve unprecedented compactness.

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