HENSOLDT Unveils Initial Flight Module for Groundbreaking Earth Observation Satellite in Partnership with OHB

The satellite, engineered by OHB, will deliver imagery with an exceptionally high level of precision. The primary element is a substantial telescope. For this optical apparatus, HENSOLDT is fabricating a total of four mirrors of varying dimensions. These mirrors are composed of Zerodur, a glass-ceramic material known for its minimal thermal expansion.

Following an extensive light-weighting process at Schott lasting more than six months, the largest mirror underwent polishing at Zeiss for over a year and was subjected to interferometric measurements at HENSOLDT more than 50 times to meet the necessary precision in the nanometer range. For comparison: a human hair has a diameter of approximately 100µm, which is 1000 times broader than the required and achieved height variances on the mirror surface.

For HENSOLDT, accomplishing this scale with such precision marks a groundbreaking achievement. There exist very few firms globally that can produce mirrors of this caliber. It necessitates a comprehensive comprehension of the associations between design, manufacturing, and measurement, which has been honed throughout the production cycle. To validate that the mirror assemblies can endure the harsh environmental conditions of rocket launch and operational phases without damage, HENSOLDT executed numerous assessments for vibration, impact, thermal stress, and high-energy radiation.

Since 2019, a total of five units of these mirrors have been designed, produced, assembled, and evaluated, three of which are designated as flight units. The unit intended for telescope testing was already delivered in October 2020 and successfully verified in OHB’s instrument.