The
telescope's primary mirror blank was cut from a blank of
Zerodur (TM) developed by Schott Glaswerke
in Mainz, Germany (near Frankfurt). Zerodur was selected
because it is a unique glass-ceramic material with a zero
thermal expansion.
The mirror blank started out measuring over
3 meters in diameter and weighting 3,800 kg. Through the
lightweighting process, the mirror blank became the SOFIA
telescope mirror of 2.7 meter with a svelte weight of 880
kg (1,940 lbs). See how the mirror blank was transformed
into the SOFIA telescope:
Page Last Updated:
February 19, 2004
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