NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center astrophysicists are developing better instruments to measure high-energy X-rays zipping about space when viewed from above the Earth’s atmosphere. Scientists at MSFC adapted a novel method for material removal and super-polishing to the mandrel fabrication of an advanced X-ray telescope.

The first MSFC application of Electro-chemically Enhanced Mechanical Polishing (EEMP) involved producing mandrels for highly accurate cylindrical mirrors for the High Energy Replicated Optics (HERO) balloon-borne telescope. The new mandrel fabrication method, which replaces conventional mechanical figuring and polishing, resulted in a much more rapid and inexpensive production of the mandrel, with better control of the surface figure and surface quality during the process, and with a high degree of repeatability.

Typically, mandrels are figured by mechanical grinding and polishing. MSFC scientists then use superpolishing techniques to produce finishes of a few Angstroms, which replicate directly to the surface of the mirror shell. Often the shape of the mandrel after basic figuring requires additional adjustments to remove a common characteristic known as mid-spatial-frequency ripple. This can dominate the optical performance of replicated shells, but is very difficult and time-consuming to remove. The EEMP technique was developed to remove these troublesome mm-to-cm-scale-length periodicities while maintaining surface finish.

The EEMP method is computer-controlled, coordinating all of the parameters that range from polishing media and electric current (which follows the profile of the material to be removed), to the position of the polishing lap. As long as the base material is conducting, semiconducting, or can be doped for conductance (such as silicon carbide), it is a candidate for EEMP surface treatment, even if it has multi-phase materials.

This technology offers various advantages over conventional mechanical polishing, plasma ion etching, and magne-torheological polishing, including faster material removal, reduced mechanical stress (print through), the capability to process multiphase material, the ability to handle large surfaces, and a smaller equipment footprint.

NASA’s Technology Transfer Program offers commercial licensing agreements to ensure its pioneering research finds secondary uses that benefit the economy, create jobs, and improve quality of life. For more information about licensing, please contact Clark Darty at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 256-544-2728.