Astronomy and Science

Precision systems at the service of Science and the observation of the Universe

Sener/Markets/Aerospace & Defence/Astronomy and Science

Work on opto-mechanical systems for large scientific infrastructures.

Decades of experience with large ground-based telescopes

We supply innovative equipment to the European Southern Observatory (ESO), the Canary Islands Astrophysics Institute (IAC), ITER and the ALBA Synchrotron, among others. We address multidisciplinary projects in optomechanics, large mobile structures and instrumentation, including the disciplines of optics, mechanics, electronics and SW, as well as actuators and control systems. Some of our other cross-disciplinary capacities range from the manufacture, assembly and integration of large equipment to the subcontracting and monitoring of large optics, along with validation and testing in seismically isolated facilities.

Mirror Cells

We have more than 22 years of experience developing complex systems for large ground-based telescopes. Among our most important activities, we are international leaders in the design, integration and testing of cells for large mirrors with a diameter of 4 m, which includes structures and mechanisms to guarantee high-precision position and surface error of the optics during the telescope’s operation.

This has allowed us to position ourselves as a world-renowned company in opto-mechanical systems for positioning and supporting large mirrors. We specialize in high-performance drive systems made to measure for all types of mirrors, including those of a large size and weight.

The mirrors cells we make, depending on their application and functionality, can be divided up into:

Active cells for large segmented monolithic or primary mirrors, which include an isostatic support structure (whiffle-tree) and/or an active system for correcting the surface error of the optics in the range of tens of nanometres.
Systems for aligning large mirrors to correct their position in 3 or 5 degrees of freedom, usually based on hexapods and with precision on the order of micrometres.
Fast steering cells, which quickly move the mirror in order to stabilize the image that has been disturbed by the effect of wind and vibrations of the telescope structure.

We have gained experience with the development, manufacturing and validation of secondary mirror cells for the GTC and VISTA telescopes, as well as the cells for the secondary, tertiary and fifth mirror of the ELT and the preliminary design of the primary mirror of the EST.

Telescope Systems

We successfully carry out different electromechanical systems for ground-based telescopes, from the design and deployment of large high-precision mobile structures to the development of moving devices and focal plane co-rotators for telescopes.

The following stand out in these types of systems:

Rotation systems (including cable guides) that are installed in the focal plane of the telescope to derotate the instrument’s field of view and position wavefront sensors in the focal plane, as in the VLT GRAAL.
Electromechanical actuation systems included in the large structures of the telescope to position subsystems of the telescope weighing several tons, such as the WEAVE Translation System.

Additionally, the maintenance activities of the telescopes that have to operate for decades in remote places, at high altitudes and with limited means are also worth highlighting. At Sener Aeroespacial, we work along two lines to simplify the operation of large telescopes:

Remote manipulator systems for segmented mirror segments (798 segments in the case of the ELT M1 manipulator), which allow them to be remotely removed, moved and reinstalled for their maintenance operations.
Mirror maintenance systems. One of the main problems that affect ground-based telescopes is the particles that are deposited in large optics and that require daily maintenance operations. To solve this, we develop preventive and corrective cleaning systems for these particles to reduce their handling, as in the case of the Laser Cleaning System.

Instrumentation

Large scientific infrastructures require instrumentation to fulfil their objectives, such as optical components in the case of ground-based telescopes, beamlines in synchrotrons or diagnostic systems in fusion facilities. In collaboration with the scientific community, we actively participate in the development and implementation of these instruments and contribute our experience in optical mechanisms and systems.

In the field of astronomy, at Sener Aeroespacial we have collaborated on numerous instruments with subsystems such as:

Mechanisms and specifically large filter wheels with their control electronics for optical instruments (OSIRIS, EMIR, Javalambre).
Design and implementation of optical mounts (CARMENES).
Optical correction systems (lens barrel) to correct atmospheric dispersion (WEAVE Corrector).
Calibration system for radio telescopes (ALMA).

Likewise, we offer engineering solutions for fusion facilities and users of experimental beamlines that need to develop complex projects and custom instruments for their experimental stations. Our extensive knowledge has been contrasted with our work experience in leading European facilities such as the ITER and JT-60SA fusion facilities, the ALBA Synchrotron and in other high-energy physics research groups.

Other Aerospace lines

Space

We are a pioneering engineering company specializing in the design of satellite technology and equipment for space exploration. For decades, we have collaborated with the world’s leading space agencies—ESA, NASA, JAXA—and major industry companies. With an unwavering commitment to reliability, we take pride in our extensive experience and eagerly anticipate the challenges and discoveries that lie ahead.

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