Even in the earliest history, people have been incredibly fascinated by the universe, as evidenced by various cave paintings and the Celestial Disk of Nebra. A question like, "What are those shimmering colors in the night sky?" has evolved over time into more complex considerations of how galaxies, stars and planets have evolved and will continue to evolve in the future. Scientists are trying to solve these mysteries using highly sensitive systems such as the Atacama Large Millimeter Array(ALMA), the Solar Orbiter spacecraft and the European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT).
Positioning systems, which are used to move mirror elements or sub-reflectors, are essential for the operation of large telescopes, probes and the overall success of space experiments. In addition to precision and dynamics, the functionality of components and subsystems under extreme environmental conditions and the ability to withstand high accelerations during rocket launch are also essential requirements.
On the basis of its long experience, Physik Instrumente offers extensive know-how and competence in the development and production of suitable solutions and has therefore become a co-participant in several major space projects.