The optics for the International X-Ray Observatory (IXO) require alignment and integration of about fourteen thousand
thin mirror segments to achieve the mission goal of 3.0 square meters of effective area at 1.25 keV with an angular
resolution of five arc-seconds. These mirror segments are 0.4 mm thick, and 200 to 400 mm in size, which makes it hard
not to impart distortion at the sub-arc-second level. This paper outlines the precise alignment, verification testing, and
permanent bonding techniques developed at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). These techniques are used
to overcome the challenge of aligning thin mirror segments and bonding them with arc-second alignment and minimal
figure distortion. Recent advances in technology development in the area of permanent bonding have produced
significant results. This paper will highlight the recent advances in alignment, testing, and permanent bonding techniques
as well as the results they have produced.
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