Mission Moon: Schneider-Kreuznach Ruggedized Lenses on Artemis II
Humanity is heading back to the moon – and Schneider-Kreuznach is providing the vision. We are incredibly proud to announce that our optics were on board NASA’s historic Artemis II mission, capturing critical moments of the journey to lunar orbit and back.
Photo Credit: NASA
When it comes to space exploration, there is absolutely no room for error. The extreme conditions of a rocket launch demand technological perfection. For the Artemis II mission, NASA required optical equipment capable of surviving extreme vibrations, massive G-forces, and the harsh vacuum of space, all while delivering flawless, high-resolution images.
Customized and Ruggedized for the Extreme
Standard industrial lenses cannot withstand the environment of a rocket launch. To meet NASA's requirements, Schneider-Kreuznach provided specially adapted, space-ruggedized lenses designed for these conditions.
These custom optics were reinforced to ensure that internal lens elements remained completely immoveable, maintaining precise focus and optical alignment despite the violent shaking and acoustic shocks of the Space Launch System (SLS) liftoff.
Capturing the Critical Booster Separation
One of the most crucial applications for our lenses during the Artemis II mission was monitoring the rocket's booster separation. This high-stakes maneuver happens at incredible speeds and altitudes. NASA relied on our lenses to capture detailed visual data of the separation process.
Thanks to the ruggedized design, the lenses delivered crystal-clear, uncompromised footage of the event, providing mission control with vital information and delivering spectacular images of the mission.
Proven Where It Matters
"Being selected by NASA to provide optics for the Artemis program is a huge testament to the quality and durability of our products," says Magnus Greger, Lead Business Unit Industry. "Our space ruggedized lenses are built to perform where standard optics fail. Seeing them succeed on a mission around the Moon is a proud moment for the entire Schneider-Kreuznach team."
