Jena, September 26, 2026 – The new ‘Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’ has been in space for a few weeks, tasked with providing crucial insights into exoplanets and dark matter. Technology from Thuringia is playing a key role in the telescope’s orientation: Jena-Optronik, a company specializing in space technology, has supplied high-precision star trackers for the mission.
- Event: Use of Jena-based space technology in the new NASA telescope
- Technology: Three optical star trackers for attitude determination in space
- Company: Jena-Optronik with a long tradition in satellite technology
- Milestone: Mission launch on August 30, 2026, in Florida
Precise Orientation in the Universe
A star tracker is an optical measuring instrument that photographs and analyzes the position of stars. “This allows for the precise orientation or attitude of satellites and spacecraft in space to be determined,” explained Sabine Ludwig, project manager for star trackers at Jena-Optronik. Inside the sensor is a specialized star catalog of the brightest celestial bodies. By automatically comparing the captured images with this catalog, the exact position in space is determined.
The company’s expertise dates back to the GDR era. Sensors from Jena have already been used in numerous international space missions. In June 2022, the team handed over the three star trackers, along with test systems, to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. The mission finally launched successfully on August 30, 2026, from the Kennedy Space Flight Center in Florida.
Scientific Added Value Compared to Hubble
The new telescope is named after Nancy Grace Roman, one of the first women in a leadership position at NASA. It is considered a technological quantum leap compared to the ‘Hubble’ predecessor telescope launched in 1990. While Hubble targets individual galaxies and nebulae in detail, the new telescope operates with a completely new methodology.
The field of view of the Roman telescope is about 100 times larger than that of Hubble. Observations that would take Hubble a century to complete can be performed by the new system in just one month. Positioned in a stable orbit around Lagrange point 2, it provides high-resolution, large-format images. This enables scientists to collect extensive statistical data on dark energy, dark matter, and exoplanets.
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History of Optics and Precision Engineering in Jena
Exciting insights into the historical development of Jena’s high-tech industry and optics.
Background: Jena as a Center for High Technology and Optics
The city on the Saale river looks back on a world-renowned tradition in the fields of optics, precision engineering, and photonics. Companies and research institutions have shaped the location for generations. Participation in major international astrophysics projects underscores the enormous technological competence of the regional industry, which has evolved from historical roots into a global supplier for modern space travel.
The mission duration is initially set for five years, with an extension of up to ten years possible thanks to energy-efficient solar panel operation in a stable orbit. The first scientific images from the telescope are expected in early 2027.
Source:
‘Nancy Grace Roman’ Telescope: Exploring Space with Technology from Jena
Transparency note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.