Coherent Corp. announced an agreement with the Space Foundation Discovery Center, located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to provide on loan a demonstration mirror developed for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The JWST launched on December 25, 2021, after a 25-year construction project heralded as one of the most complex and ambitious projects in engineering and space exploration history.

The telescope almost immediately revolutionized understanding of the universe, much like the Hubble Space Telescope did, by providing unprecedented clarity and depth in its observations of the early universe, star and planet formation, and other key astronomical phenomena. Its observations are highly anticipated by the scientific community and are expected to yield groundbreaking discoveries in the years to come. The Space Foundation Discovery Center focuses on inspiring and educating individuals of all ages about space, science, and technology.

Its mission is to serve as the leading advocate and gateway for lifelong education, trusted information, and collaboration for anyone interested in space exploration and industries influenced by space. This is achieved by advancing science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) in the context of space exploration, development, and utilization. The Discovery Center is currently nearing the completion of a renovation designed to improve visitor experience and add new exhibits, such as the JWST mirror.

The JWST mirrors represent the most visible feature of the telescope. The 6.5 meter (21.3 feet) primary mirror is comprised of 18 hexagonal segments made from beryllium and coated in gold to maximize reflectivity in the infrared spectrum. The Coherent contribution to the mirror assembly consisted of the atomic engineering of the surface and applying advanced thin-film coatings to assure durability of the JWST hexagonal mirror segments, as well as the secondary, tertiary, and fine steering mirrors.

The technology innovations necessary to complete the mirrors represent a series of engineering achievements that have crossed over to commercial markets, including the OLED display panel manufacturing for mobile devices.