The Importance of Nanotechnology and Nanometrology for Space ...

MIT
MOTIVATION
Goal of our laboratory: improve performance of astrophysics instrumentation.
• Weak signals from space motivate ultra-sensitive instruments.
High launch costs motivate highest performance with lowest possible mass.
• Many useful phenomena occur when structure size and placement accuracy is below
the wavelength of light, into the nanometer regime.
• Nanostructures need special considerations to survive stress of space (launch vibration,
heat/cold) and not be destroyed or lose dimensional accuracy. (Use size hierarchy and
kinematic mounting.)
• Extreme need for high quality and manufacturability. Nanometrology is key to success
for process control (interferometry, SEM and AFM).
• Our lab has developed novel nanostructure technologies applied to nine NASA
missions and others under development. Three missions are described:
Chandra x-ray telescope.
IMAGE mission neutral atom camera.
Constellation X x-ray telescope mission development.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology