In this study on adaptive membrane mirror manufacturing, researchers successfully created parabolic membrane mirrors of exceptional optical quality in a test chamber, using a rotating liquid surface as mold. The development of very large telescopes for space or balloon-borne observatories often hinges on reducing the weight and volume of their primary mirrors, which are critical and sizable components of precision camera systems. The newly developed mirrors enable such weight and volume reduction, as they consist of a polymer membrane featuring smooth surfaces, covered with a  thin reflective coating. The investigation convincingly demonstrates that local imperfections or changes in the mirror's shape can be corrected through radiative techniques employing slight temperature variations. The method exhibits scalability, enabling the production of large mirrors spanning several meters in diameter. This method presents an opportunity to manufacture cost-effective and adaptable primary mirrors for the next generation of space telescopes. For instance, the flexibility of the membrane material allows for compact packaging, facilitating the mirror's fit into launch vehicles prior to deployment in space. This technology offers a practical and scalable solution to surmount traditional manufacturing challenges and enables lightweight high-quality parabolic mirrors capable of supporting large aperture space telescopes.

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