Satellite radar mirror production. Engineer handling a precision quasi-optical mirror for a satellite radar sensor. It is made of invar, a nickel-iron
Satellite radar mirror production. Engineer handling a precision quasi-optical mirror for a satellite radar sensor. It is made of invar, a nickel-iron alloy that has a low coefficient of thermal expansion, meaning it is resistant to temperature changes. This component will be used in the cloud radar sensor on the EarthCARE satellite, a joint ESA-Japanese mission due to launch in 2016. This precision optics manufacturing is being done at UK company Thomas Keating Ltd, contracted to Astrium in Germany. A 2-micrometre ultra-precision jig grinding machine ensures high accuracy. Photographed in 2012.
Size: 2449px × 3659px
Photo credit: © BRIAN BELL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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