Corning Optical Assembly Key Component of NASA's New Horizons Mission Past Pluto
July 15 2015 - 8:30AM
CORNING, N.Y., July 15,
2015 - Corning Incorporated (NYSE: GLW) today announced
that a high-precision opto-mechanical assembly manufactured in
Corning's Keene, N.H., facility is part of the imaging system of
NASA's New Horizons mission that made its historic pass by Pluto
Tuesday.
Corning provided diamond-turned mirrors and
housing that are an integral part of the unmanned spacecraft's
Ralph infrared imager, a remote sensing instrument manufactured by
Ball Aerospace to map surface composition and temperature. The
Ralph imager has returned the closest-ever color images of
Pluto.
The New Horizons mission, the first spacecraft to
the Pluto System and the Kuiper Belt, launched in 2006 and has
traveled for nine years to reach the milestone close approach to
Pluto. The spacecraft traveled within approximately 7,750 miles of
Pluto on July 14. The mission resulted from collaboration among
NASA, the Southwest Research Institute, and industry partners.
Corning's high-precision mirrors and housing were engineered as
part of the Ralph imager to deliver optical performance that is
minimally sensitive to temperature and minimizes thermal
gradients.
The diamond-turned mirrors enable the Ralph imager
to respond passively to temperature gradients, ensuring it remains
in focus. The mirrors, designed to be lightweight, help enable the
Ralph imager to run with low power. Corning and Ball Aerospace
worked closely to perform the assembly and detailed testing of the
Ralph optical engine prior to the mission launch.
"We've delivered diamond-turned mirrors and
optical components for several NASA missions but are especially
proud as the New Horizons mission marked this important milestone,"
said Curt Weinstein, vice president and general manager, Advanced
Optics, Corning Specialty Materials. "Corning has a long history in
space innovation, dating back more than 50 years. With our focus on
innovation, we look forward to continued industry collaboration on
projects like New Horizons."
Highlights of Corning's role in space exploration
include making window glass for all of NASA's manned space missions
and the International Space Station, and production of mirrors for
the Hubble, Gemini, and Subaru telescopes.
For more information about Corning Specialty
Materials, please visit www.corning.com/specialtymaterials.
Forward-Looking and Cautionary
Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" (within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995), which are based on current expectations and assumptions
about Corning's financial results and business operations, that
involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties
include: the effect of global political, economic and business
conditions; conditions in the financial and credit
markets; currency fluctuations; tax rates; product demand
and industry capacity; competition; reliance on a concentrated
customer base; manufacturing efficiencies; cost reductions;
availability of critical components and materials; new product
commercialization; pricing fluctuations and changes in
the mix of sales between premium and non-premium products; new
plant start-up or restructuring costs; possible
disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity,
armed conflict, political or financial instability, natural
disasters, adverse weather conditions, or major health concerns;
adequacy of insurance; equity company activities; acquisition and
divestiture activities; the level of excess or obsolete inventory;
the rate of technology change; the ability to enforce patents;
product and components performance issues; retention of key
personnel; stock price fluctuations; and adverse litigation or
regulatory developments. These and other risk factors
are detailed in Corning's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as
of the day that they are made, and Corning undertakes no obligation
to update them in light of new information or future events.
About Corning
Incorporated
Corning (www.corning.com) is one of the world's leading innovators
in materials science. For more than 160 years, Corning has applied
its unparalleled expertise in specialty glass, ceramics, and
optical physics to develop products that have created new
industries and transformed people's lives. Corning succeeds through
sustained investment in R&D, a unique combination of material
and process innovation, and close collaboration with customers to
solve tough technology challenges. Corning's businesses and markets
are constantly evolving. Today, Corning's products enable diverse
industries such as consumer electronics, telecommunications,
transportation, and life sciences. They include damage-resistant
cover glass for smartphones and tablets; precision glass for
advanced displays; optical fiber, wireless technologies, and
connectivity solutions for high-speed communications networks;
trusted products that accelerate drug discovery and manufacturing;
and emissions-control products for cars, trucks, and off-road
vehicles.
Media Relations
Contacts:
Anna I.
Giambrone
(607)
974-5933
giambronai@corning.com
Joseph Dunning
(607) 974-5006
dunningjm@corning.com
Investor Relations Contact:
Ann H.S. Nicholson
(607) 974-6716
nicholsoas@corning.com
View Images:
Illustration of New Horizons spacecraft | Corning's
diamond-turned mirrors for New Horizons spacecraft
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responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the
information contained therein.
Source: Corning Incorporated via Globenewswire
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