# TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Composite Meter-Class Monolithic Space Telescope

Canonical: https://abierto.us/opportunities/il13823

- Solicitation number: IL-13823
- Notice type: Special notice
- Status: Closed. Deadline was August 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM EDT
- Department: Department of Energy
- Contracting office: LLNS – DOE Contractor (899011)
- NAICS: 333310 Commercial and Service Industry Machinery 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: July 28, 2025
- Last posted: July 28, 2025
- SAM.gov: https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/2852962ddc8942eb8bdb962fe5b42e25/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 Composite Meter-Class Monolithic Space Telescope.

**Background:** LLNL developed a solid monolith telescope construction approach (U.S. Patent No. 9720223, IL-12599) that has driven a new paradigm for high-performance, multi-aperture space telescopes at previously unheard-of costs, mainly due to their intrinsic robustness. Unfortunately, solid monoliths mass becomes excessive beyond half-meter aperture, approaching 1000 kg at meter-scale. What is needed is a new construction approach to scale the advantages of solid monolithic telescopes to meter-scale and beyond.

**Description:** The approach is to use foundational materials science, structural design, thermal analysis, optic fabrication, and space systems engineering, and to use optimize them through large-scale simulation to realize meter-scale telescopes at 10X cost reduction. LLNL’s folded Gregorian design integrates all alignment sensitive components into one static monolithic system. Like solid-monoliths, these composite monoliths eliminate all dynamic degrees of freedom. The entire assembly consists of (1) primary/secondary mirrors, (2) focal plane array, and an integrated Fold-Mirror strut.

**Advantages/Benefits:** Reduce costs by eliminating risk associated with high sensitivity optomechanical components. Greater robustness and reliability by eliminating high-precision mechanical structures. Reduce SWaP (size, weight and power) factors Potential Applications: National security Free-space optical communications Astrophysics High-resolution space imagery Development Status: Current stage of technology development: TRL 2 LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

Related patents: U.S. Patent No. 9720223 Integrated Telescope Assembly published 8/1/2017 U.S. Patent Application No. 2024/0383798 Systems and Methods for Additively Manufacturing High Strength and Stiffness Fiber-Reinforced Inorganic Glass Composite Structures published 11/21/24 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 Composite Meter-Class Monolithic Space Telescopes 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 Composite Meter-Class Monolithic Space Telescopes. 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-13823

## Publications

- July 28, 2025: Special notice, due August 28, 2025 at 9:00 PM EDT. Notice 2852962ddc8942eb8bdb962fe5b42e25. https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/2852962ddc8942eb8bdb962fe5b42e25/view

## Points of contact

- Clarence Cannon, cannon15@llnl.gov, 9254233989
- Charlotte Eng, eng23@llnl.gov, 9254221905

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Source: SAM.gov Contract Opportunities bulk extract. Confirm deadlines on SAM.gov before responding. Cite https://abierto.us/opportunities/il13823.
