
447
Spaceborne Applications
Chapter 16
16. Spaceborne Applications
Wolfgang Riede and Denny Wernham
16.1 Introduction
e space environment presents unique challenges for the operation of optics and optical
coatings as part of laser systems. Components must be designed to survive long-term oper-
ation under variation of temperature, under exposure to ultraviolet (UV) and other ion-
izing radiations, under the presence of atomic oxygen, and vibration loads during launch.
Furthermore, vacuum operation of lasers can be accompanied with contamination of the
involved optics, especially in the ultraviolet spectral range. Hence, a reliable, long-term
La