News & Press

Exploring a new world: NASA’s Psyche mission spacecraft equipped with sensor technology from Jena

Jena-Optronik provides autonomous star sensors to Maxar for the attitude control system of the Psyche spacecraft.

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Heinrich Hertz mission launched with star sensors “Made in Jena” on board

Two of Jena-Optronik’s ASTRO APS star sensors enable the attitude and orbit control of the German geostationary communication satellite, which was developed and built by OHB System AG.

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Mission enabler: Jena-Optronik star tracker selected by Airbus OneWeb Satellites

Jena-Optronik is proud to announce that it has been selected by satellite constellation manufacturer Airbus OneWeb Satellites to provide the ASTRO CL star tracker for the ARROW family of small satellites.

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Little big star (tracker)

Maxar taps Jena-Optronik for the ASTRO CL star tracker for new proliferated low-Earth orbit (LEO) platform.

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Spaceship Orion with sensors from Jena on its way to the Moon

As part of the NASA mission Artemis I, the spaceship Orion was successfully launched into space on November 16th 2022  and is headed to orbit the Moon. It is equipped with two star sensors from the successful Thuringian space company Jena-Optronik GmbH. Starting with follow-up mission Artemis III, the Jena-based company will also supply two additional rendezvous and docking sensors per mission.

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Premiere in space

On October 5, 2022 a new generation of Jena sensors was launched into space on C-band communication satellites built by the Boeing Company.

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Cleaning up space junk

Astroscale selects LiDAR from Jena-Optronik for innovative space debris removal mission ELSA-M.

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Research and living in space

Axiom Space selects Rendezvous- and Docking Sensor from Jena-Optronik for its commercial space station module.

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Long-term partnership: sensors from Jena again on its way to the ISS

Jena-Optronik GmbH signs first long-term agreement for rendezvous and docking sensors with Sierra Space, a subsidiary of Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).

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Space camera from Jena on the hunt for asteroids

Jena-Optronik GmbH is delivering a new camera system to the prime contractor OHB System AG for the HERA mission.

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As science fiction became reality… 36.000 km above Earth

Northrop Grumman’s “Mission Extension Vehicle-1” (MEV-1) had its historic docking with the Intelsat 901 (IS-901) spacecraft on February 25, 2020. Now, MEV-2 successfully docked with the Intelsat IS-1002 satellite, again with space technology from Jena.

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Return ticket booked: From Earth to Mars and back again

Star sensors from Jena lead the way to the red planet.

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NASA, ESA and Jena-Optronik: A space cooperation for exploring the cosmos

 Jena-Optronik has received a contract to supply star sensors as part of the international "Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope" Project.

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Turning science fiction into reality: MEV servicing mission to extend the lifespan of satellites

The "Mission-Extension Vehicle" (MEV for short) of the US tech company Northrop Grumman has been successfully deployed in space with the latest optical technology from Jena on-board. A new docking sensor system from Jena-Optronik GmbH is on its maiden flight as part of the world's first commercial on-orbit servicing mission in geostationary Orbit.

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For the Earth from outer space: EDRS-C

The European "data highway in space" is on its way into geostationary orbit with technology from Jena.

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Star competence honored with “High Five Award”

American technology group and satellite manufacturer Lockheed Martin awards “High Five Award” to a project team of Jena-Optronik GmbH.

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A rendezvous in space: the automated cargo spacecraft Cygnus with future technology from Jena starts its voyage to the ISS

Built by the American aerospace company Northrop Grumman, the re-supply mission S.S. Roger Chaffee (Cygnus NG-11) successfully lifts-off to the International Space Station (ISS) on 17th April 2019, On board is the latest generation of rendezvous and docking sensors developed by Jena-Optronik GmbH.

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RapidEye Earth Observation Constellation celebrates 10 years of success in space.

A fleet of five identical satellites equipped with camera systems from Jena-Optrinik GmbH was launched on board a Dnepr rocket from the Baikonur spaceport in Kazakhstan on 29th August 2008.

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Copernicus Earth monitoring program - a great success due also to the contribution by the team at Jena

On 25 April 2018 the Sentinel-3B, built by Thales Alenia Space was launched as part of the European Copernicus earth monitoring program with technology supplied by the aerospace company Jena-Optronik GmbH and is sending its first Images.

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Space mission to the future: Sierra Nevada Corporation selected rendezvous and docking sensor technology from Jena

German-based space company Jena-Optronik was tapped as a supplier for the next generation spacecraft, the reusable Dream Chaser® spacecraft

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Excellent performance honored

German space company Jena-Optronik GmbH receives supplier award by Space System Loral.

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New images for the data archive of our planet: Satellite Sentinel-2B has sent its first views of the earth

On 7th March 2017 Sentinel-2B was launched. It is the fifth satellite for the EU ‘Copernicus’ earth observation program. Essential components of the satellite’s multi-spectral instrument (MSI) were supplied by the aerospace company Jena Optronik GmbH, based in Thuringia, and provide a new perspective of our earth.

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High-tech made in Jena, Germany, for the new satellite platform SmallGEO

The following feat was made possible thanks to the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the European Space Agency (ESA): In Germany, the new satellite platform SmallGEO, which is developed in Bremen by satellite manufacturer OHB System AG, makes it possible to deliver whole satellites. Attitude control sensors by Thuringia-based space company Jena-Optronik GmbH are also included.

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Space overarching Global Climate Conference COP22

How can satellite data help to stop global warming? This and many other questions were discussed as part of the Global Climate Conference in Marrakesh from the 7th to the 18th of November. Jena Optronik presented the results of its latest projects and Solutions.

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Japanese-German cooperation for a flawless rendezvous in space

The Rendezvous- and Docking Sensor (RVS) from space company Jena-Optronik is ready for its sixth mission to the International Space Station on the Japanese transfer vehicle HTV.

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Jena-Optronik recieves award for the new building

„Würdigung Jenaer Fassadenpreis 2015“ for Jena-Optronik's new home.

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A new view of our planet: Satellite Sentinel-3A provides its first batch of data

On 16th February 2016 at 18:57 MEZ Sentinel-3A lifted off, the third satellite in the European COPERNICUS earth observation program. The satellite has sent the first pictures of its five month commissioning phase.

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Lift-off: Successful Senitnel-3 launch

Successful Senitnel-3 launch - Congratulation

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Made in Germany for Space

Made in Germany for Space - New DLR component initiative

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Sensor technology from Jena

Sensor technology from Jena: The campaign "That's Thuringia" starts the new year with its latest image video and our Rendezvous- and Docking Sensor (RVS).

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A new view of planet earth

On June 23rd, the second sentinel satellite launched for its mission to observe the earth’s surface, since the weekend it has been sending its images. Sentinel-2A will open up a new way of looking at the earth.

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Orion spacecraft will be equipped with Star Sensors from Jena

The Orion spacecraft is designed to transport astronauts into deep space and to explore the farside of the moon, asteroids, and Mars. On board will be star sensors from Jena-Optronik GmbH. 

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A new home for modern space technology in Jena

In the presence of the parliamentary state secretary Brigitte Zypries, German Federal Coordinator for Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Thuringian Minister for Economics, Science and the Digital Society Wolfgang Tiefensee, Jena Optronik GmbH ceremonially inaugurated its new development on 26th May 2015.

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New registered office from February on

We are pleased to announce that from February 1st 2015, the registered office from Jena-Optronik GmbH will be transferred to Otto-Eppenstein Strasse 3 in 07745 Jena, Germany.

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The perfect rendezvous: ATV-5 space transporter with technology of the future from Jena

At 15:30 on 12 August 2014, thanks to the sensors of the Thuringian aerospace company Jena-Optronik, the European ATV-5 space transporter named “George Lemaître” docked successfully and accurately to the millimetre at the International Space Station, ISS.

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Navigating with the sun

Space technology from Jena is on board the first satellite in Europe's Copernicus Earth observation program.

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New cargo logistics spacecraft “Cygnus” guided safely to the International Space Station (ISS) with technology from Jena

Orbital Sciences Cooperation’s unmanned “Cygnus” cargo logistics spacecraft precisely approached the ISS with the help of three Rendezvous- and Docking Sensors by Jena-Optronik, Germany.

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Successful berthing

Rendezvous- and Docking Sensor RVS enables the fully automated docking of the HTV-4 with the International Space Station ISS.

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First flight: Next generation star sensor on Alphasat

Europe's largest communication satellite Alphasat launched successfully on July 25th. On board it carries the latest Jena-Optronik star sensor ASTRO APS.

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Albert Einstein's safe journey

Rendezvous- and Docking Sensors of Jena-Optronik enable the fully automated docking of the Automated Transfer Vehicle ATV-4 with the International Space Station.

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Third Rendezvous within 5 years

Successful fully automated docking of the unmanned transport vehicle ATV 3 "Edoardo Amaldi" to the International Space Station due to the rendezvous and docking sensors of the Jena-Optronik

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Jena-Optronik receives international AARP Best Employer Award

The Thuringian-based space company has been given the “2011 AARP Best Employers for Workers Over 50 Award – International“ as one of 15 chosen companies yesterday in Chicago.

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Exploring a new world: NASA’s Psyche mission spacecraft equipped with sensor technology from Jena

Jena-Optronik provides autonomous star sensors to Maxar for the attitude control system of the Psyche spacecraft.

read more

Heinrich Hertz mission launched with star sensors “Made in Jena” on board

Two of Jena-Optronik’s ASTRO APS star sensors enable the attitude and orbit control of the German geostationary communication satellite, which was developed and built by OHB System AG.

read more

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ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer was our guest!

A very excited #teamspace met Matthias Maurer on November 27, 2023.

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Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, visited us

Jena-Optronik had the great honor of giving insight into the future of space to a special guest: Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, visited us on November 20, 2023!

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Space photography

Apollo astronauts as photographers: stunning pictures of our blue marble, the moon and astronauts' lifes 

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Space: It’s all around us

Space inspires us all and creates a wealth of knowledge

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Events

  • April 08-11, 2024
    Space Symposium, Colorado Springs, CO, USA
  • February 06-08, 2024
    SmallSat Symposium, Mountain View, CA, USA
  • February 01-07, 2024
    AAS GN&C Conference, Breckenridge, CO, USA