A telescope includes an initial telescope comprising a concave first mirror and a convex second mirror that are configured so that they form, from a light beam coming from infinity, an image called the intermediate image in a focal plane called the intermediate focal plane, the intermediate image having a largest dimension along an X-axis perpendicular to an optical axis of the telescope, a segmenting module comprising a first set of n segmenting mirrors that are placed downstream of the intermediate focal plane and that are configured to divide the intermediate image obtained from the intermediate focal plane into n sub-images, a second set of n refocusing mirrors that are configured to reimage the n sub-images into n images in a focal plane of the telescope, the images being arranged in the focal plane so as to decrease the dimension along X containing the n images, a detecting device placed in the focal plane.

A telescope includes an initial telescope comprising a concave first mirror and a convex second mirror that are configured so that they form, from a light beam coming from infinity, an image called the intermediate image in a focal plane called the intermediate focal plane, the intermediate image having a largest dimension along an X-axis perpendicular to an optical axis of the telescope, a segmenting module comprising a first set of n segmenting mirrors that are placed downstream of the intermediate focal plane and that are configured to divide the intermediate image obtained from the intermediate focal plane into n sub-images, a second set of n refocusing mirrors that are configured to reimage the n sub-images into n images in a focal plane of the telescope, the images being arranged in the focal plane so as to decrease the dimension along X containing the n images, a detecting device placed in the focal plane.

A space optical instrument is disclosed including a primary mirror having an optical axis and including a first face, referred to as the front face, oriented towards an observed area, and a second face opposite to the first, referred to as the rear face, the optical instrument further including a thermal stabilization device for the primary mirror, comprising a thermally conductive wall extending around the optical axis (O) on the front face side of the primary mirror towards which this face is oriented. The thermal stabilization device further includes a temperature regulating device for the circumferential wall that is capable of using the measurement of an incident heat flux on the mirror, and adapting the temperature of the circumferential wall according to the measured incident heat flux, in order to keep the front face of the mirror at a constant temperature.

A telescope that includes a hollow body, an optical system and mirror positioned in the hollow body,—a device for adjusting tilt and the position of the mirror including a carriage translatably movable in the hollow body, a mirror support plate rigidly connected to the carriage by a hinge, where the carriage is translated by a screw/nut mechanism operated by an adjustment button mounted capable of rotating in a housing portion, the adjustment button is arranged such that rotation of the button causes the carriage to be translatably moved, the adjustment button is associated with a stop member designed to cooperate with a complementary stop member arranged in the housing portion so as to limit button rotation and carriage movement, and at least one actuator movably mounted in the carriage that on the support plate such that moving the actuator changes the tilt of the plate.

A telescope that includes a hollow body, an optical system and mirror positioned in the hollow body,—a device for adjusting tilt and the position of the mirror including a carriage translatably movable in the hollow body, a mirror support plate rigidly connected to the carriage by a hinge, where the carriage is translated by a screw/nut mechanism operated by an adjustment button mounted capable of rotating in a housing portion, the adjustment button is arranged such that rotation of the button causes the carriage to be translatably moved, the adjustment button is associated with a stop member designed to cooperate with a complementary stop member arranged in the housing portion so as to limit button rotation and carriage movement, and at least one actuator movably mounted in the carriage that on the support plate such that moving the actuator changes the tilt of the plate.

A retrofittable subassembly that enhances the operational availability of a terrestrial optical surveillance system is disclosed. In various embodiments, the subassembly comprises a diffusely reflective and insulating external cover, a highly uniform plate-glass cover, an wide angle FOV camera and a passive thermal control system.

A method for acquiring an image of a celestial body, including: using an apparatus including a hollow body into which light rays originating from the observed celestial body penetrate, arranging, in the hollow body, an optical system having an optical axis, the optical system configured so that the light rays form, in an image focal region, an image of the observed celestial body, arranging in the hollow body at least first and second matrix arrays of optical sensors configured to acquire the image of the celestial body formed in the image focal region, where the matrix arrays are of different designs suitable for observing celestial bodies of different natures, selecting one of the matrix arrays and placing it in the image focal region, the other matrix array remaining outside of the image focal region, the matrix array being selected depending on the nature of the observed celestial body.

A method for acquiring an image of a celestial body, including: using an apparatus including a hollow body into which light rays originating from the observed celestial body penetrate, arranging, in the hollow body, an optical system having an optical axis, the optical system configured so that the light rays form, in an image focal region, an image of the observed celestial body, arranging in the hollow body at least first and second matrix arrays of optical sensors configured to acquire the image of the celestial body formed in the image focal region, where the matrix arrays are of different designs suitable for observing celestial bodies of different natures, selecting one of the matrix arrays and placing it in the image focal region, the other matrix array remaining outside of the image focal region, the matrix array being selected depending on the nature of the observed celestial body.

A satellite with a primary imaging mirror fabricated while in space is described. The primary mirror is formed by solidifying liquid precursor material which assumes a paraboloid shape upon certain rotational maneuvers of the satellite. The primary mirror is preferably formed from a molten metal which creates a rigid paraboloid primary mirror upon solidification. The mirror material can be pre-melted prior to launch and carried to orbit while liquid, or it can be stored as a solid and melted in space to create the mirror.

A satellite with a primary imaging mirror fabricated while in space is described. The primary mirror is formed by solidifying liquid precursor material which assumes a paraboloid shape upon certain rotational maneuvers of the satellite. The primary mirror is preferably formed from a molten metal which creates a rigid paraboloid primary mirror upon solidification. The mirror material can be pre-melted prior to launch and carried to orbit while liquid, or it can be stored as a solid and melted in space to create the mirror.