Success Stories and Testimonials

1.ISP Optics inside Gemini South Telescope in Chile

Under the NICI project, the Gemini South Telescope in Chile is taking unprecedented stunning images from earth which are outer space picture quality. ISP Optics components are part of the adaptive optics wavefront sensor system which provides these excellent images, and 'best in the world' reputation. Follow the link at the Gemini website to see an example and learn the invaluable insight they provide.

2.ISP Optics makes Origami Optics

Isp Optics has made the September 2008 issue of A collaboration between ISP Optics and University of San Diego student Eric Tremblay and Distant Focus Corporation has resulted in a unique folded optic in which high levels of magnification were squeezed into a very small, thin lens. The program is funded by DARPA and goes by the name Montage.

3.ISP Optics in the WIYN telescope

ISP Optics supplied 10 lenses and window which were used in In the near-IR camera that is mounted on the 3.5 meter WIYN telescope at Kitt Peak.

4.Joint Project of NASA, JPL and University of Hawaii

The Near Infrared Coronographic Imager (NICI) will study the origin and evolution of planetary systems by analyzing the circumstellar environments of nearby stars. NICI is the most ambitious, dedicated, instrumentation effort to date, to target planetary system evolution. When combined with the new Gemini telescopes, NICI will excel at planetary disk and low mass companion studies extending our understanding of the formation of planetary systems and their evolution from the earliest epochs of dusty circumstellar disks to mature systems like our own.

5.JPL Keck Observatory

The Terrestrial Planet Finder (TPF) will study all aspects of planets outside our solar system: from their formation and development in disks of dust and gas around newly forming stars to the presence and features of those planets orbiting the nearest stars; from the numbers at various sizes and places to their suitability as an abode for life. By combining the high sensitivity of space telescopes with revolutionary imaging technologies, TPF will measure the size, temperature, and placement of planets as small as the Earth in the habitable zones of distant solar systems. In addition, TPF’s spectroscopy will allow atmospheric chemists and biologist to use the relative amounts of gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, ozone and methane to find whether a planet someday could or even now does support.

6.The Aerospace Corporation

The new form of prism spectrograph system is based on aplanatic principles. The basic system is simple, comprising a prism with two spherical refracting surfaces, both operating near their aplanatic conjugates, and a spherical mirror operating near its center of curvature. This form provides a flat, accessible focal surface suitable for use with modern array detectors.

7.Ball Aerospace

SIM spectrometer is the integral part of the Deep Impact (DI) mission which will provide key insights into the interior of comets previously unavailable from other missions. This will lead to insights into the development of our solar system, and a better understanding of comets in general; some of humankind’s most ancient puzzles.

8.NASA

Detecting invisible burning gas was a difficult problem confronting NASA. Safety officers needed a reliable detection system to operate at the base of the space shuttle launch site and alert them to dangerous hydrogen combustion the moment it occurred. ISP Optics components were chosen to be the “eyes” for thermographic IR cameras, specially designed for the watchful task.

9.ITT Aerospace/ Communications Division

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) series took orbiting satellites another step. Once again, ITT A/CD was there to advance the onboard payload instrumentation. GOES has allowed meteorological observation to be “earth synchronous”. By continuously surveying a particular area, like the East Coast of the US and Caribbean , GOES has become the backbone for the US “early warning weather system”. With the Imager’s multispectral design and increased sensitivity it can detect temperature fluctuations, variation in low-level moisture, track hurricanes from their inception as tropical storms, and alert residents as high-velocity winds approach land. In compiling such data, meteorologists are able to issue winter storm warnings and spring snowmelt advisories long before they take their effect.

10.Bell Lab, Riso, Ames National Lab

ISP Optics biconcave MgF2 lenses were used for the prototyping experiments of the small-angle neutrons scattering (SANS). Around 30 lenses were placed end-to-end near the sample position of 30 m SANS instrument to focus neutrons, emanating from a circular source.

11.What Our Customers Are Saying About ISP Optics

The 76mm zinc selenide flats that ISP fabricated for me proved to be first rate. Their surface figure beat my 150nm peak-to-valley spec. by a wide margin, and the flats were thickness matched to just four microns. It is a real pleasure to find an optics house that delivers what they promise."
R. J. Smith, Ball Aerospace

"After I checked with several vendors, ISP quoted the lowest cost and fastest delivery time for lithium fluoride optics. We received our optics on time (or earlier!), and the quality is exceptional."
Greg Hurst, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

"ISP quickly understood our needs and worked closely with us to refine our drawings. The compound prism assemblies are working well within product. ISP's construction methodology appears superior."
Tim Gardner, Eastman Kodak Company