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Goddard Engineering and Technology Directorate

Optical Alignment, Integration, and Test (AI&T)

A primary mirror segment for the James Webb Space Telescope in preparation for segment-level metrology on a coordinate measuring machine in an Optics Branch clean room prior to integration with the rest of the telescope.
A primary mirror segment for the James Webb Space Telescope in preparation for segment-level metrology on a coordinate measuring machine in an Optics Branch clean room prior to integration with the rest of the telescope.

Precision Engineering for Space Science and Optical Instrumentation

The Engineering and Technology Directorate (ETD) specialize in precision engineering — enabling the design, construction, and support through flight of precision devices for space science, especially scientific instrumentation.  ETD personnel perform precision assembly, metrology, and alignment of optical instrumentation, followed by optical testing, performance verification, and calibration, coupled with engineering data analysis and modeling at every step. Optical components like the one shown in the image above are measured for accurate placement and alignment.