The 22nd Annual Mirror Technology in the Government Workshop was held in Rochester, NY from 11/15-17/22 with tours of the Roman Space Telescope on 11/14/22. There were 56 presentations (37 Open and 19 ITAR) from 32 different organizations on mirror technology development activities funded by 7 different government agencies (NASA, Army, Air Force, DoE, MDA, Navy and Space Force). There was a special 1.5-hour session on the Webb Telescope’s on-orbit performance, a 1.5-hr. ITAR level status on the Romans Telescope, and a 3-hour ITAR level review of NASA’s Segmented Mirror Telescope Project technology development activities. Tech Days was attended by 112 persons from 61 different organizations.
Tech Days is held annually to coordinate taxpayer investments in mirror system technology across NASA Centers and Government Agencies. It enables NASA SBIR reviewers and CORs the opportunity to review progress on funded Phase 1 and Phase 2 activities in the context of a Government wide investment portfolio. It also provides an opportunity for Prime Contractors to track Government investments and integrate those investments into current and future programs. Finally, surplus from the meeting funds local SPIE and OSA Student Chapter activities in the host cities and the Huntsville Optics and Photonics Apprenticeship program.
