1998AAS...192.1401C Abstract
A new type of super lightweight telescope mirrors has been developed and is undergoing testing at NASA GSFC. By 'super lightweight' we refer, for example, to a 0.6 m mirror for space projects that weighs less than 1.5 kg, and to a 0.9 m mirror for ground-based applications that weighs less than 5 kg. The mirrors are made by optical replication using graphite fiber cyanate ester composite materials. In contrast to other lightweight optics technologies, composite replica mirrors are far simpler in structure, lighter, faster to produce, and cost much less. Potential applications include uv-vis-ir telescopes for balloon, space and lunar missions, portable meter class optical telescopes, and the next generation of very large (>10 m) ground-based telescopes.