An optical system designed to use a diffraction grating to disperse light can only meet its system performance goals if the grating meets or exceeds its specifications; and an optical system that must be delivered by a certain date and has a grating on its critical path in the project plan cannot be successful if the grating is late. For a germanium blazed immersion grating that pushes limits on what can be fabricated with confidence, detailed planning and active risk management is essential for mitigating known risks, dealing with new risks as they arise, and maintaining a balance between knowing when good enough is being achieved versus pushing further towards a perfect grating. This paper describes risk management for producing what will be referred to as the Ge24 grating, which is expected to enable demonstration of the optical system science goals, and shares a lesson learned on preparing the germanium substrate for cutting the grooves.
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