ABSTRACT
The most important performance specifications for a mirror are associated with the shape, that is, optical figure, and position of its reflecting surface at all operational orientations relative to gravity. Secondary specifications include cost, weight, material availability, maintainability, and technical risk. Design of a mirror and its mount involves balancing performance with these and other considerations, such as pertinent environmental influences. Simple approximate closed-form solutions are a useful means for rapidly evaluating performance during conceptual design. Following the selection of conceptual designs, more detailed analysis methods, such as the finite element method, can be used to predict performance more accurately.
