Freeform optics design, fabrication and testing technologies for Space applications

Abstract

The introduction of freefrom optical surfaces in a space instrument offers the possibility to improve its performance, its volume and weight or a combination of both. This is shown to be valid for either imaging systems or spectroscopic systems. At Safran Reosc we master freeform robotic polishing technology since more than 25 years and we will show how we continue to improve it in term of quality, productivity and adequacy to ceramic materials like Silicon Carbide. Surprisingly, the conservative space industry evolved slowly from spherical to rotationnally symmetric aspherical and off-axis optics during the last decades. This is no more valid today and we are proud to contribute to MicroCarb and IASI NG, two recent innovative projects taking benefit of such freeform optics designs enabling more cost-effective advanced missions. These projects will be briefly presented with their status of progess of work at the company. We will also take this opportunity to present our work on the extreme off-axis optics used within the MERLIN lidar project, produced with the same freeform technology.