The AXAF Technology Mirror Assembly (TMA) was characterized prior to x -ray testing by properties measured mechanically or with visible light; these include alignment offsets, roundness and global axial slope errors, axial figure errors with characteristic lengths greater than about five mm, and surface roughness with scale lengths between about 0.005 and 0.5 mm.The x -ray data of are compared with predictions based upon the mechanical and visible light measurements.Introduction.

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The Advanced X -ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) presently undergoing definition studies is to be a major space -borne observatory in the United States Astronomy program.It will represent a major forward step in x -ray imaging capability. The x -ray imaging optics, a nested set of Wolter I telescopes will be larger, with response at higher energies, and of significantly improved angular resolution compared to all previous x -ray imaging telescopes. In order to establish that the technology, including manufacturing processes and metrology, are in place for the manufacture of the AXAF High Resolution Mirror Assembly (HRMA), a technology program was implemented.The final element of that program was the fabrication of a scaled Wolter I telescope to AXAF quality, and the subsequent testing of that telescope at the Marshall Space Flight Center X -ray Calibration Facility (XCF). This telescope is called the Technology Mirror Assembly (TMA). An overall description of the TMA program along with an overview of the test results and interpretation are presented here. Companion papers will describe the test procedures, results, and interpretations in much greater detail.