Re: Alternative mirror technologies, WAS ATM Liquid-mirror telescopes (fwd)

[Fred Floberg <atm@cyphyn.nai.net>]

Chuck Knight <cknight@flash.net>
> 
> If you think about it, the only important part of the mirror is the
> reflecting surface...the rest of it is only there to provide a shape,
> or physical support.  I'm interested in finding "other" ways to
> provide that shape, with accuracy, which use modern materials.

You might want to have a look at the archives for May of this list.
P.C. Chen <CHEN@stars.gsfc.nasa.gov> breifly reviews his work with
"ultralightweight composite replica mirrors" and provides a URL
(http://snoopy.gsfc.nasa.gov/~lunartel/lunar1.html) which describes
the process in more detail.

Also, I'm sure that this topic (mylar film mirrors in a vacuum) was
brought up not too long ago here. I think Andy Saulietis was interested
in them, but I can't find the thread in the archives now.

Was I mistaken? Something about using high voltage to deform the figure
at high speed to compensate for poor seeing and all that?

Fred

P.S. Thanks to all who responded to my RTV/acetic acid query. You've confirmed
that the fretting was unwarranted, as I had suspected.

-- 
F.C. Floberg - N1GVA
Latitude 41.4498
Longitude -72.8194