Optimization design of an ultralight large-aperture space mirror.

The ultralight space mirror has long been a hot topic in the research field of space telescopes. In this paper, an ultralight mirror is designed by obtaining the structure and parameters of a mirror with an aperture of 2 m through experimental design and multiobjective integrated optimization. Specifically, the materials near the neutral surface were replaced with elliptical holes. The back of the mirror was supported at three points. Finite-element analysis shows that the mirror had a surface figure error of 10.4 nm under 1 g in the direction (gravity direction), which is sufficiently high to be applied to visible light optical systems. Further, the eigenfrequencies of mirror components were obtained through finite-element analysis: 70 Hz in the direction, 70 Hz in the direction, and 90 Hz in the direction. The results demonstrate the excellent dynamics performance of the designed mirror. Compared with test results, the relative error of eigenfrequencies was within 4%. Hence, our ultralight design outputs reliable optimization results and applies to the development of large-aperture ultralight space mirrors. Finally, the ultralight mirror was prepared from reaction-bonded silicon carbide. The mass and surface density of the prepared mirror were 105 kg and 34/, respectively. The mirror mass was 50% lighter than that of the mirrors designed by traditional lightweight methods.