California Institute of Technology

Gregory Agnes

Douglas C Hofmann

Eric T Sunada

Andrew A Shapiro

Gregory L Davis

Rudranarayan M Mukherjee

Timothy P Setterfield

Spencer Backus

Samantha H Glassner

Blair J Emanuel

Russell G Smith

Pointing interfaces that can be used to assemble/disassemble instruments/payloads from a spacecraft/host are disclosed. The disclosed interfaces provide structural, communications, power, and fluid connections (for thermal control). Such interfaces also provide active and passive vibration isolation capability for precision pointing. They can further act as an interface to the launch vehicle for secondary delivery of the instrument/payload to the spacecraft.

Precision pointing interface

Systems and methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention implement bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanisms. In one embodiment, a bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanism includes: a flexible member that is strained during the normal operation of the compliant mechanism; where the flexible member has a thickness of 0.5 mm; where the flexible member comprises a bulk metallic glass-based material; and where the bulk metallic glass-based material can survive a fatigue test that includes 1000 cycles under a bending loading mode at an applied stress to ultimate strength ratio of 0.25.

Systems and methods for implementing bulk metallic glass-based macroscale compliant mechanisms

A mirror or mirror assembly fabricated by molding, pressing, assembling, or depositing one or more bulk metal glass (BMG), bulk metal glass composite (BMGMC), or amorphous metal (AM) parts and where the optical surface and backing of the mirror can be fabricated without machining or polishing by utilizing the unique molding capabilities of this class of materials.

Amorphous metals and composites as mirrors and mirror assemblies

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Valencia, CA, United States of America

Gregory Agnes