# TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Method for Fabricating a Lightweight Space Telescope Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/il13665 - Solicitation number: IL-13665 - Notice type: Special notice - Status: Closed. Deadline was March 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM EST - Department: Department of Energy - Contracting office: LLNS – DOE Contractor (899011) - NAICS: 334511 Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing - Place of performance: Livermore, California - County: Alameda County (FIPS 06001). https://abierto.us/counties/alameda-county-ca-06001 - City: Livermore. https://abierto.us/cities/livermore-ca-0641992 - First posted: February 2, 2024 - Last posted: February 2, 2024 - SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/b88f67e5b3bf421a863737200fc6059f/view ## Description **Opportunity:** Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Method for Fabricating a Lightweight Space Telescope. **Background:** Monolithic telescopes fabricate a reflective telescope into a single silica substrate. This approach provides exceptional mechanical stability because the relative position of the mirrors is permanently polished into a monolithic substrate and is inherently temperature insensitive due to the low CTE of fused silica (0.5 ppm/K). Once fabricated, monolithic telescopes can be taken for granted because the mirrors will always be aligned, even after subject to extreme force like during launch into space. There is a need to scale such telescope designs to larger apertures but not to incur the weight penalty of the conventional design. **Description:** Aeroptics are a proposed new class of monolithic optical system in aerogel fabricated by molding around a master mandrel. This approach combines the intrinsic stability of proven monolithic telescopes, with the ultralow density of silica aerogels. In Aeroptics, the monolith is hollow with an aerogel substrate providing a supporting structure. Theoretically, Aeroptics could enable 1-m aperture space-based telescopes with a mass of just 15kg, and mass that scales with aperture diameter cubed. **Advantages/Benefits:** All the stability advantages of a monolithic optic without the weight or optical absorption. Reduces weight at a 1m scale by 2 – 3 orders of magnitude. Compatible with space deployments and operations. Can be used in any application requiring fixed reflective optical elements. **Potential Applications:** Space situational awareness and navigation Remote Sensing Development Status: Current stage of technology development: TRL 2-3 LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention. U.S. Patent Application No. 2023/0204936 Monolithic Optical Systems published 6/29/2023 LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process. **Note:** THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Method for Fabricating a Lightweight Space Telescope should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following: Company Name and address. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology. Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Method for Fabricating a Lightweight Space Telescope. The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below. Written responses should be directed to: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Innovation and Partnerships Office P.O. **Box 808, L-779 Livermore, CA 94551-0808 Attention:** IL-13665 ## Publications - February 2, 2024: Special notice, due March 3, 2024 at 6:00 PM EST. Notice b88f67e5b3bf421a863737200fc6059f. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/b88f67e5b3bf421a863737200fc6059f/view ## Points of contact - IPO Support, ipo-support@llnl.gov, 9254226416 - Elsie Quaite-Randall, quaiterandal1@llnl.gov, 9254237302 --- Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/il13665.