PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING AN ATHERMAL LOW COST TELESCOPE BASED ON HIGH PRECISION REPLICATION TECHNOLOGY, AND SUCH TELESCOPE

A manufacturing method creates a type of telescope which is athermal, lightweight, optical quality for visible and IR applications. The method includes:a) optical mirrors being made by immersing a master, that is an optical component with a curvature opposite to the mirror required into an electrolytic bath where the applied current transfers metal ions and deposit them on the master, the cathode, as a layer,b) the layer being bonded by an adhesive, solder or any other attachment process to a mechanical reinforcing structure,c) after the hardening of the bond or glue, the thin layer being finally released from the master and having maintained the optical quality of the master.The master or mandrel can be cleaned and reused for repeating this method and manufacturing large series of telescopes.