A milestone in space research: Hellma Materials supplies key optical components for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Jena/Merrit Island (Florida/USA) – With the successful launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, NASA has ushered in a new era of astronomical research. Designed as the successor to the legendary Hubble Space Telescope, the observatory is regarded as a groundbreaking ‘Discovery Machine’: It scans the sky up to 1,000 times faster than previous missions and is set to answer fundamental questions about dark energy and the discovery of distant exoplanets.

For the team at Hellma Materials GmbH, the launch of this mission is a very special success: a key optical component on board the space telescope is made from synthetic crystal material manufactured in Jena.

High-precision CaF₂ prism for extreme operating conditions

At the heart of the telescope’s scientific instruments, a high-precision calcium fluoride prism performs its function. The component was manufactured from a synthetic CaF₂ blank supplied by Hellma Materials, measuring Ø 120 mm × 45 mm.

Optical components intended for use in space must be able to withstand extreme conditions. The key parameters for precise signal detection include:

Maximum material homogeneity throughout the entire volume
Maximum optical transmission in the required spectral range
Minimal voltage birefringence for undistorted measurements under space conditions

On the way to Lagrange point L2

The telescope is currently en route to Lagrange point L2, some 1.5 million kilometres from Earth, where it will be stationed in future. The fact that synthetic crystals from Jena are making a direct contribution to one of the most significant astrophysical missions of the decade once again underlines the capabilities and leading international position of Jena as a centre for optics.

This ABC News report provides a detailed account of the launch and the scientific objectives of the mission:

👉 Watch the video report