{"id":8433,"date":"2014-07-29T18:08:56","date_gmt":"2014-07-29T22:08:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8433"},"modified":"2014-07-29T18:08:56","modified_gmt":"2014-07-29T22:08:56","slug":"corning-donates-1-8m-in-equipment-to-boldlygo-astro-1-space-telescope-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8433","title":{"rendered":"Corning donates $1.8M in equipment to BoldlyGo Astro-1 space telescope project"},"content":{"rendered":"

An announcement from the\u00a0BoldlyGo Institute<\/a>:<\/p>\n

BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute & Corning Incorporated Announce $1.8 Million
\nEquipment Gift For\u00a0Astro-1<\/span>\u00a0Space Telescope Project<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

With Long History of Working on Astronomical Telescopes, Corning Donates Key
\nComponents of 1.8-Meter Space Telescope Primary Mirror<\/em><\/p>\n

BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute Aims to Launch\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0by Mid-2020\u2019s<\/em><\/p>\n

New York, NY (July 29)<\/strong>\u00a0— The\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute (BGI<\/span>) \u2013 a new, privately funded, not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing space science and exploration \u2013 and\u00a0Corning<\/a>\u00a0Incorporated (NYSE:GLW<\/span>) today announced the charitable donation of the principal components for a 1.8-meter space telescope primary mirror for\u00a0BGI’s<\/span>\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0space telescope project.<\/p>\n

Corning has a long tradition of manufacturing key optical components for ground-based and space-based astronomical telescopes in the United States and around the world, and had previously developed these components that were \u201cabandoned in place\u201d after the NASA program they were originally intended for was\u00a0cancelled<\/span>. The estimated value of the equipment is $1.8 million.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis generous gift marks an important step forward for the\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute and the\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0space telescope project,\u201d said\u00a0Dr. Jon Morse, chief executive officer of\u00a0BGI<\/span>\u00a0and former Director of Astrophysics at NASA Headquarters. \u201cCorning has made numerous contributions to frontier space science missions, and this donation makes it possible for\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0to continue in that great tradition.\u201d<\/p>\n

“For more than 160 years, Corning has applied its unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and optical physics to develop products that have transformed scientific research \u2013 including window glass for all of NASA’s manned spacecraft missions and the International Space Station. The work of the\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute and the\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0space telescope will continue this critical research for another generation and we are proud to support it,” said\u00a0Curt Weinstein, vice president and general manager, Advanced Optics, Corning Specialty Materials.<\/p>\n

The components donated by Corning will be used to conduct one of two world-class scientific missions unveiled by\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0in June, the\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0space telescope. Scientists will use the\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0space telescope to accomplish a wide range of scientific programs impacting topics across space astronomy, including the study of\u00a0exoplanets<\/span>\u00a0orbiting near stars, the structure of the Milky Way and nearby galaxies, and cosmology.\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0is designed to support goals and objectives described in major scientific, technical and programmatic reports by NASA, the National Research Council, and other science community-based organizations.\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0is expected to launch by the mid-2020\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs today’s announcement proves, New York not only has some of the best minds, but we have many of the leading institutions of science ready to help advance our knowledge of the cosmos,\u201d said\u00a0Congressman Paul\u00a0Tonko<\/span>, N.Y. – 20. \u201cThroughout my time in Congress, I have worked to make New York a national leader in STEM education, which is why I was proud to work with the\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute in the earliest stages prior to their public launch. I want to applaud Corning and the\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute for developing this partnership, which should help to advance discoveries in space science and ultimately provide our students with a wonderful opportunity to better understand the universe.\u201d<\/p>\n

Earlier this month, Corning Incorporated announced the delivery of custom optical components to NASA for use in its\u00a0OSIRIS-REx<\/span>\u00a0mission, the third mission in NASA\u2019s New Frontiers Program. The\u00a0OSIRIS-REx<\/span>\u00a0spacecraft will visit a near-Earth asteroid named\u00a0Bennu<\/span>, launching in 2016 and reaching the asteroid in 2018. After a detailed study, the spacecraft will obtain a sample and return to Earth in 2023.<\/p>\n

Corning’s previous contributions to science have enabled seminal discoveries, such as the multitude of planetary systems orbiting distant stars detected by NASA\u2019s Kepler space telescope. Corning also produced the Hubble Space Telescope primary mirror and optics for ground-based systems such as the Subaru and the two Gemini eight-meter class telescopes. For\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>, Corning is donating six\u00a0ULE<\/span>\u00ae\u00a0lightweighted<\/span>\u00a0core segments, which currently reside at the Corning Plant in Canton, N.Y.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are extremely proud to be partnering with Corning, a company with a storied history in space systems and scientific discovery,\u201d added\u00a0Steve\u00a0Battel<\/span>, member of the\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute Board of Directors and President of\u00a0Battel<\/span>\u00a0Engineering. \u201cThey have generously placed these seeds of new discoveries in our hands. Our plan is to move quickly to advance the system design and hardware development for\u00a0ASTRO-1<\/span>\u00a0with the objective of continuing and enhancing the incredible and unique legacy of the Hubble Space Telescope and other space observatories.\u201d<\/p>\n

BGI<\/span>\u00a0is fostering a new era of space science based on the idea that a private organization funded by small and large dollar donors can increase the number and variety of space science missions conducted, leading to more data, more discoveries and increased knowledge about the universe and our place in it. As part of their NewSpace Science movement, the\u00a0BoldlyGo<\/span>\u00a0Institute strives to:<\/p>\n