Sagem delivers first prototype primary mirror segments for the European Extremely Large Telescope

Sagem (Safran group) has delivered to ESO (European Southern Observatory) the first five prototype segments for the primary mirror on the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), a major step forward in proving the feasibility of this exciting new instrument.

The E-ELT is a huge telescope with a primary mirror measuring some 40 meters in diameter (130 ft), designed to significantly improve our understanding of the Universe. It comprises nearly 1,000 mirror segments, whose shape and position are continuously adjusted using miniature electromechanical actuators. While improving the overall image quality, this giant mirror also provides a 15-fold increase in the surface area that gathers in light from the stars, outpacing all telescopes built to date. The European Extremely Large Telescope will drive considerable progress in astronomy, especially through its ability to directly acquire images of exoplanets (outside the Solar System). It will start operation early in the next decade pending a final go-ahead for E-ELT construction from the ESO Council.