Boston Micromachines wins NASA contract for MEMS-based mirrors

Boston Micromachines Corp., Cambridge, Mass., a leading provider of MEMS-based deformable mirror products for adaptive optics systems, has won a Phase 1 contract for $125,000 from NASA's Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) to support exoplanet imaging research, according to a company news release issued Dec. 19.

A Mini-Deformable Mirror from Boston Micromachines.

Boston Micromachines is to develop a microfabrication process that substantially improves the surface quality achievable in high-resolution continuous-membrane MEMS deformable mirrors, according to the company. The company will try to produce a twofold improvement in small-scale surface flatness compared to current technology, as well as a corresponding reduction in diffraction.

"One of NASA's core objectives is to explore earth-like planets outside of our solar system," the company reported. "Space telescope optics cannot be shaped to the precision required for imaging of small earth-sized planets, and therefore deformable mirrors must be used to correct for the residual aberrations resulting from initial fabrication and slowly changing mechanical deformations of the deployed primary mirror. This grant will enable Boston Micromachines to develop processes and manufacturing innovations that will improve the ability of deformable mirrors to correct for these residual aberrations resulting in reduced glare in imaging systems used in the search for earth-sized planets."