Optical calibration and first light for the deformable mirror demonstration mission CubeSat (DeMi)

Microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) deformable mirrors (DMs) can provide high-precision wavefront control with a small form-factor, low power device. This makes them key technology option for future space telescopes requiring adaptive optics high-contrast imaging of exoplanets coronagraph instrument. The Deformable Mirror Demonstration Mission (DeMi) CubeSat payload is miniature telescope designed to demonstrate MEMS DM in the first time. DeMi contains 50-mm primary mirror, an internal calibration laser source, 140-actuator from Boston Micromachines Corporation, image plane sensor, and Shack–Hartmann sensor (SHWFS). requirements are measure individual actuator displacement contributions precision 12 nm correct both static dynamic errors less than 100-nm RMS error. mission will raise readiness level five at least seven applications. We summarize optical design, calibration, diffraction model, alignment, integration, environmental testing, preliminary data in-space operations. Ground testing show that SHWFS deflections on within 10 interferometric measurements meet 12-nm requirement deflection voltages between 0 120 V. Payload throughout survived provides valuable baseline compare data. Initial operations actuating median agreement equivalent ground nm.