Gaia People

Bernd Harnisch

European Space Agency

Bernd Harnisch is an optical engineer within ESA's technical directorate. He is closely involved in the development of the optical systems for Gaia, as technical officer for the development of the silicon carbide optics for Gaia (mirrors and payload structure) and for the high-stability optical bench/basic angle monitoring study. In these areas he works closely with the Gaia study manager in ESA, Oscar Pace, and supervises and directs the related industrial studies.

A prototype primary mirror (1.4 x 0.5 m in size) has been manufactured in SiC during the technology study phase (2002-04). This very challenging aspheric off-axis mirror has been manufactured in the Boostec facilities, polished, silver coated, and subject to environment testing and thermal cycling.

Bernd left Gaia in 2006.

[Published: 03/11/2003 | Updated: 08/09/2008]