Mirrors are a subset of optical components essential for the success of current and future space missions. Most of the telescopes for space programs ranging from earth observation to astrophysics and covering the whole electromagnetic spectrum from x-rays to far-infrared are based on reflective optics. Mirrors operate in diverse and harsh environments that range from low-earth orbit to interplanetary orbits and deep space. The operational life of space observatories spans from minutes (sounding rockets) to decades (large observatories), and the performance of the mirrors within the mission lifetime is susceptible to degrading, resulting in a drop in the instrument throughput, which in turn affects the scientific return. Therefore, the knowledge of potential degradation mechanisms, how they affect mirror performance, and how to prevent them is of paramount importance to ensure the long-term success of space telescopes. In this review, we report an overview of current mirror technology for space missions with a focus on the importance of the degradation and radiation resistance of coating materials. Special attention is given to degradation effects on mirrors for far and extreme UV, as in these ranges the degradation is enhanced by the strong absorption of most contaminants.

中文翻译：

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太空望远镜的后视镜：退化问题

镜子是光学组件的子集，对于当前和将来的太空飞行任务的成功至关重要。从太空观测到天体物理学，涵盖从X射线到远红外的整个电磁频谱的大多数太空计划望远镜都是基于反射光学系统的。镜子在从低地球轨道到行星际轨道和深空的各种恶劣环境中运行。空间天文台的使用寿命从数分钟（发声的火箭）到数十年（大型天文台），并且在任务寿命内反光镜的性能容易降低，从而导致仪器吞吐量的下降，进而影响科学性。返回。因此，了解潜在的降级机制，它们如何影响反射镜性能，如何防止它们对确保太空望远镜的长期成功至关重要。在这篇评论中，我们报告了太空任务中当前的镜面技术概述，重点是涂层材料的降解和抗辐射性的重要性。对于远紫外线和极端紫外线对镜面的降解效果给予了特别的关注，因为在这些范围内，大多数污染物的强吸收会加剧降解。