Carbon Nano-Tube Polymer Composite Mirrors for CubeSat Telescopes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical telescopes for CubeSat spacecraft are constrained by size, mass, and spectral range limitations, making them unsuitable for compact, cost-efficient, and mass-producible solutions for deep space planetary science investigations and communication systems, particularly in the UV-VIS-IR range.

Innovation Solution

A compact, lightweight, cost-efficient UV-VIS-IR 1U-2U CubeSat telescope with a fast focal-ratio, reflective optics design using carbon nano-tube polymer matrix composite primary and secondary mirrors, capable of mass manufacture, and an optical coupling interface for commercial-off-the-shelf spectrometers, allowing for efficient integration with CubeSat configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional optical telescopes are used for CubeSat, then spectral range and imaging quality are improved, but size, mass, and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral rangeVSAvoidtelescope mass

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs carbon nano-tube polymer matrix composite materials to fabricate telescope mirrors, combining the lightweight properties of carbon nanotubes with polymer matrices to achieve high strength-to-weight ratio while maintaining structural integrity for optical applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes 3D printing technology to create mandrels with precise geometric parameters that define the final mirror shape, enabling complex optical surfaces to be manufactured with controlled dimensional accuracy without traditional polishing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If traditional optical telescopes are used for CubeSat, then optical performance is improved, but manufacturing cost and production time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical performanceVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates reusable 3D printed mandrels that can be replicated to produce multiple identical telescope mirrors, enabling mass production and reducing per-unit manufacturing costs through standardized tooling and processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical polishing and figure-setting processes with 3D printing technology, allowing direct fabrication of optical surfaces from digital models without requiring skilled labor-intensive manual polishing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Volume of moving object

If telescope size is reduced for CubeSat constraints, then volume and mass are reduced, but optical performance and spectral range deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetelescope volumeVSAvoidspectral range

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the telescope system into modular components including separate primary and secondary mirrors, allowing each element to be independently optimized and manufactured, then assembled to achieve the required overall optical performance within volume constraints

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs curved reflective surfaces with optimized radii of curvature to achieve effective focal lengths and spectral coverage that would require larger aperture diameters in traditional flat-mirror designs, maximizing optical performance within compact volumes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Weight of moving object

If fast focal-ratio reflective optics are used, then mass and complexity are reduced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetelescope massVSAvoidmirror surface precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional mechanical polishing processes with 3D printing technology, where the mandrel geometry directly defines the mirror surface figure, eliminating the need for high-precision manual polishing while maintaining surface accuracy through digital modeling control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables low-cost, low-mass instrumentation for array or swarm CubeSat configurations, supporting lunar, planetary, and Earth science investigations, as well as spacecraft communication systems, by providing wide wavelength coverage and rapid instrument integration within stringent volume and mass constraints.

Implementation Method 1

reflective optics design using carbon nano-tube polymer matrix composite primary and secondary mirrors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11971300B1Carbon nano-tube polymer composite mirrors for CubeSat telescope

Publication Date: 2024.04.30 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR NAT AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION

AI summary

The present invention relates to a compact, lightweight, cost-efficient ultraviolet-visible-far infrared (UV-VIS-IR) telescope system, covering the 300 nm to 2500 nm (0.3 μm to 2.5 μm) spectral range, based on a fast focal-ratio, reflective optics design, and an optical coupling interface appropriate for COTS spectrometers, commensurate with about 1U-2U CubeSat payload volume.