Spaceflight and Thermal Control Coatings

Over 30 years of experience in the design, development, and application of precision thermal control and reflectance coatings on critical spaceflight hardware.

Surface Optics has full capability to address unique hardware from conception to completion. Our ability to create specialized fixturing includes mechanical design, fabrication, proof loading, and complete handling plans. Surface Optics has safely processed hundreds of flight reflectors and other aerospace hardware through our coating facility.

Key Coating Technology

Ion Assisted E-beam Evaporation

Reflective & Transmissive coatings: optical, IR, RF.

Moving Source Coating Platform

Enables coating of parts as large as chamber.

Low temperature coating of polymer substrates

Plastic lens, nano-laminate structures.

Aluminum coating with tailored thermal control properties

RF coating for composite spaceflight reflectors.

Your Trusted Partner Across Decades of Space Missions

Chandra
Launched 1999
WMAP
Launched 2001
Kepler Space Telescope
Launched 2009
AEHF
Launched 2010
NuSTAR
Launched 2012
Jason-3
Launched 2016
InSIGHT
Launched 2018
Sentinel-6
Launched 2020
SWOT
Launched 2022
Nancy Grace Roman
Estimated Launch: 2025

Thermal Control Coating Process

Composite substrate preparation

Epoxy resin wash coat, thermally condition, Gritblast, Matte finish (BR127 typical).

Measure resin surface prior to coating

Measure specularity on reflector surface using SOC handheld spectrometer. Measure DC resistivity to ensure electrical isolation.

Vapor deposition aluminum (VDA)

Low solar absorptivity (α), in correct thickness for lowest op. frequency.

Overcoat (SiOX or SiO2)

Correct thickness to yield desired value of emissivity (ε).

Measure RF Conductivity, α, ε, and Specularity

Using witness / edge coupons, and directly on critical hardware using handheld reflectometer.


HIGH REFLECTANCE COATING FOR KEPLER PRIMARY MIRROR
In order to produce a space telescope system with sufficient sensitivity to detect relatively small planets, a very high reflectance coating on the primary mirror was required. Using ion assisted evaporation, Surface Optics Corp. applied a protective nine-layer silver coating to enhance reflection and a dielectric interference coating to minimize the formation of color centers and atmospheric moisture absorption.

Contact our team to discuss your spaceflight program

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