09/16/2025
By Lynne Schaufenbil

Please join the Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology on Thursday, Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. the the talk "Deployable Diffractive Optical Elements for Small Satellite Lidar Missions" by Adam Bahlous-Boldi.

Abstract: SPECIES (Smart Polyimide Expandable Collector to enable Investigations for Earth Science) is a NASA Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) project that explores the use of a deployable diffractive optical element (DOE) in a space-based lidar instrument for a 12–24U CubeSat operating in low Earth orbit (LEO). The DOE, a 0.6-meter hybrid multi-level Fresnel zone plate, is made using a tessellation of hexagonal molds, each with a unique number of diffractive levels. It is stowed for launch and deployed on orbit using a 3-meter-long extendible boom, which positions the optic at the correct distance from the spacecraft, while guy wires provide tensioning to maintain a flat profile. This approach leverages the weight and cost advantages of DOEs over traditional optics of comparable size, making them a promising option for small satellite platforms. In this talk, the SPECIES deployable DOE architecture will be introduced, with emphasis on methods for modeling optical performance under deformation. Results will be presented showing how these effects influence lidar system efficiency and measurement accuracy.

Bio: Adam Bahlous-Boldi is a graduate student in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics at MIT, working in the STAR Lab under Prof. Kerri Cahoy. His research focuses on deployable diffractive optical elements for space-based remote sensing, with current work supported by the NASA ESTO–funded SPECIES project. More broadly, he is interested in the development of novel space instruments and sensing techniques across a range of scientific and exploration applications.

To RSVP please contact Lynne_Schaufenbil@uml.edu.