Resolve Optics has supplied non-browning zoom lens to the Satellite Servicing Capabilities Office (SSCO) at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, US.
A key aim of the SSCO has been to investigate human and robotic satellite servicing while developing the technologies necessary to bring in-orbit spacecraft inspection, repair, refueling, component replacement and assembly capabilities to space.
Following the mantra of ’test, test and retest’ SSCO is conducting a number of tests and demonstrations in orbit, in the air and on the ground to prove the readiness of this technology portfolio.
Mark Pontin, managing director of Resolve Optics, said: “Space-borne applications present a challenging environment, subject to radiation, where camera lens servicing or replacement is highly undesirable. NASA sought a proven supplier of high performance, radiation tolerant zoom lenses and selected Resolve Optics because of our expertise in the area and willingness to work with them on adapting our 3x and 6x non- browning zoom lens designs to be ‘space ready’. ”
All optical elements within Resolve Optics’ radiation tolerant lens designs are made using cerium oxide doped glass or synthetic silica, enabling them to withstand radiation doses of up to 100,000,000 rads and temperatures up to 55°C without discoloration or degradation of performance.
All Resolve Optics non-browning lenses provide high image resolution and minimum geometric distortion from 400 to 750nm.
