The Opteon
Laboratory at Tuorla Observatory has won the contract to
produce a 1.5 meter mirror of silicon carbide (SiC) for the European
Space Agency's ALADIN
project. The mission will make detailed studies of winds in the
Earth's atmosphere.
Opteon is also to polish the 3.5 meter silicon carbide
mirror for ESA's Herschel
satellite, which will be the most advanced infrared telescope
sent into space when it is launched in 2007. It is the fourth of ESA's
major "cornerstone" projects, and will operate until 2010-2011.
Both mirrors pioneer the use of silicon carbide, a novel ceramic
material, for use in space. Dr. Tapio Korhonen has developed at the
Opteon Labs a unique and patented method for polishing SiC, which is a
very hard material. Prior to Korhonen's invention, it was very
difficult to polish SiC while maintaining the very accurate shapes
needed for telescope mirrors.
 Lisää
suomeksi.
1.7.2004. The mirror has arrived. The Herschel mirror has arrived safely
at Tuorla Observatory's Opteon Lab aboard ESA's Beluga transporter.
Images courtesy Mikko Pasanen
More pictures of the Herschel mirror's trip to Tuorla
More on the ALADIN mission
More on the fabrication of the Herschel primary mirror
Last update: August 18th, 2004.
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