VIAVI Delivers Precision Optics for NASA's Groundbreaking SPHEREx Mission
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) has announced its participation in NASA's SPHEREx mission, which launched on March 11, 2025. The mission represents the first all-sky spectral survey in the near-infrared range, designed to map hundreds of millions of galaxies and over 100 million stars.
VIAVI's contribution includes advanced optical components for the SPHEREx spectrometer, specifically Linear Variable Filters that split light wavelengths from 0.75-5.0µm, and a dichroic beamsplitter that reflects 0.75-2.6µm while transmitting 2.6-5.0µm. These components are important for capturing and analyzing infrared signals to develop a comprehensive spectral map.
This project builds upon VIAVI's previous space mission contributions, including technology for the LEISA instrument on New Horizons, the OVIRS instrument for OSIRIS-REx, and the MISE instrument on Europa Clipper.
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) ha annunciato la sua partecipazione alla missione SPHEREx della NASA, lanciata l'11 marzo 2025. Questa missione rappresenta il primo sondaggio spettrale dell'intero cielo nella gamma del vicino infrarosso, progettato per mappare centinaia di milioni di galassie e oltre 100 milioni di stelle.
Il contributo di VIAVI include componenti ottici avanzati per lo spettrometro SPHEREx, in particolare Filtri Variabili Lineari che separano le lunghezze d'onda della luce da 0,75 a 5,0 µm, e un separatore di fasci dicroico che riflette da 0,75 a 2,6 µm mentre trasmette da 2,6 a 5,0 µm. Questi componenti sono importanti per catturare e analizzare segnali infrarossi al fine di sviluppare una mappa spettrale completa.
Questo progetto si basa sui precedenti contributi di VIAVI alle missioni spaziali, inclusa la tecnologia per lo strumento LEISA su New Horizons, lo strumento OVIRS per OSIRIS-REx e lo strumento MISE su Europa Clipper.
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) ha anunciado su participación en la misión SPHEREx de la NASA, que se lanzó el 11 de marzo de 2025. La misión representa la primera encuesta espectral de todo el cielo en el rango del infrarrojo cercano, diseñada para mapear cientos de millones de galaxias y más de 100 millones de estrellas.
La contribución de VIAVI incluye componentes ópticos avanzados para el espectrómetro SPHEREx, específicamente Filtros Variables Lineales que dividen longitudes de onda de luz de 0,75 a 5,0 µm, y un divisor de haces dicróico que refleja de 0,75 a 2,6 µm mientras transmite de 2,6 a 5,0 µm. Estos componentes son importantes para capturar y analizar señales infrarrojas para desarrollar un mapa espectral completo.
Este proyecto se basa en las contribuciones anteriores de VIAVI a misiones espaciales, incluida la tecnología para el instrumento LEISA en New Horizons, el instrumento OVIRS para OSIRIS-REx y el instrumento MISE en Europa Clipper.
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV)는 2025년 3월 11일 발사된 NASA의 SPHEREx 미션에 참여한다고 발표했습니다. 이 미션은 근적외선 범위에서 전체 하늘의 스펙트럴 서베이를 최초로 수행하며, 수억 개의 은하와 1억 개 이상의 별을 맵핑하는 것을 목표로 하고 있습니다.
VIAVI의 기여는 SPHEREx 분광계에 대한 고급 광학 구성 요소를 포함하며, 특히 0.75-5.0µm의 빛 파장을 분리하는 선형 가변 필터와 0.75-2.6µm를 반사하고 2.6-5.0µm를 투과하는 이크로익 빔스플리터를 포함합니다. 이러한 구성 요소는 신호를 포착하고 분석하여 포괄적인 스펙트럴 맵을 개발하는 데 중요합니다.
이 프로젝트는 VIAVI의 이전 우주 미션 기여를 기반으로 하며, New Horizons의 LEISA 기기, OSIRIS-REx의 OVIRS 기기, Europa Clipper의 MISE 기기에 대한 기술을 포함합니다.
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) a annoncé sa participation à la mission SPHEREx de la NASA, lancée le 11 mars 2025. Cette mission représente la première enquête spectrale du ciel entier dans la gamme infrarouge proche, conçue pour cartographier des centaines de millions de galaxies et plus de 100 millions d'étoiles.
La contribution de VIAVI comprend des composants optiques avancés pour le spectromètre SPHEREx, notamment des Filtres Variables Linéaires qui séparent les longueurs d'onde lumineuses de 0,75 à 5,0 µm, ainsi qu'un séparateur de faisceaux dichroïque qui reflète de 0,75 à 2,6 µm tout en transmettant de 2,6 à 5,0 µm. Ces composants sont importants pour capturer et analyser les signaux infrarouges afin de développer une carte spectrale complète.
Ce projet s'appuie sur les contributions précédentes de VIAVI aux missions spatiales, y compris la technologie pour l'instrument LEISA sur New Horizons, l'instrument OVIRS pour OSIRIS-REx et l'instrument MISE sur Europa Clipper.
VIAVI Solutions (NASDAQ: VIAV) hat seine Teilnahme an der SPHEREx-Mission der NASA angekündigt, die am 11. März 2025 gestartet wurde. Die Mission stellt die erste umfassende spektrale Untersuchung des gesamten Himmels im nahen Infrarotbereich dar und ist darauf ausgelegt, Hunderte Millionen Galaxien und über 100 Millionen Sterne zu kartieren.
VIAVIs Beitrag umfasst fortschrittliche optische Komponenten für das SPHEREx-Spektrometer, insbesondere Lineare Variable Filter, die Lichtwellenlängen von 0,75 bis 5,0 µm aufteilen, sowie einen dichroitischen Strahlteiler, der von 0,75 bis 2,6 µm reflektiert und von 2,6 bis 5,0 µm durchlässt. Diese Komponenten sind wichtig für die Erfassung und Analyse von Infrarotsignalen zur Entwicklung einer umfassenden spektralen Karte.
Dieses Projekt baut auf VIAVIs früheren Beiträgen zu Weltraummissionen auf, einschließlich Technologie für das LEISA-Instrument auf New Horizons, das OVIRS-Instrument für OSIRIS-REx und das MISE-Instrument auf Europa Clipper.
- Secured contract for NASA's major space mission, demonstrating technological leadership
- Builds on track record of successful space mission contributions
- Strengthens position in high-precision optical components market
- None.
Insights
VIAVI's contribution to NASA's SPHEREx mission represents a significant technological achievement in space-based spectroscopy. The company's Linear Variable Filters and dichroic beamsplitter are enabling critical capabilities for what will be the first all-sky spectral survey in the near-infrared range. These precision optics allow the mission to capture infrared signals across 102 distinct color bands spanning wavelengths from 0.75-5.0µm.
What's particularly notable is VIAVI's growing portfolio of space mission contributions. Their optical technology has previously enabled spectral imaging on the New Horizons mission (Jupiter/Pluto), the OSIRIS-REx asteroid exploration, and upcoming Europa Clipper mission. This demonstrates consistent validation of their precision optical capabilities in the most demanding space environments.
While direct revenue impact isn't disclosed, securing contracts for NASA missions typically provides two key benefits: validation of manufacturing precision/reliability and potential for expanded government/aerospace contracts. The SPHEREx mission's ambitious goals of mapping hundreds of millions of galaxies creates a prestigious reference point for VIAVI's optical security and performance division.
VIAVI's participation in NASA's SPHEREx mission highlights the company's continued penetration into high-value aerospace contracts. While no financial terms were disclosed, this deployment reinforces VIAVI's position in the specialized precision optics market segment, which typically commands premium margins compared to commoditized optical components.
The announcement demonstrates VIAVI's established track record with NASA missions, having contributed to at least three previous space initiatives. This repeat business suggests the company has built defensible expertise in this niche. For investors, this represents potential for a sustainable revenue stream from government aerospace projects, though the materiality to overall financial results remains unclear without contract values.
From a competitive positioning standpoint, the highly specialized nature of space-grade precision optics creates significant barriers to entry. Few companies possess both the technical capabilities and space heritage required to secure such contracts. The orbital deployment provides an impressive technical showcase, but investors should remain focused on whether VIAVI can translate these prestigious projects into meaningful revenue growth within its Optical Security and Performance division, which represents just one segment of the company's broader business.
By capturing the cosmos in 102 distinct infrared color bands, SPHEREx will map hundreds of millions of galaxies and over 100 million stars, providing unprecedented insights into cosmic inflation, galaxy evolution and the origins of water and organic molecules in planetary systems. The data gathered by SPHEREx will enable researchers worldwide to delve deeper into the mysteries of cosmic inflation and the chemical pathways that have led to the emergence of life.
VIAVI's state-of-the-art optical components contribute to the SPHEREx spectrometer's ability to capture and analyze the faintest infrared signals, which is critical in developing a comprehensive spectral map. Matched with six precision 2k x 2k detectors, VIAVI's Linear Variable Filters split the wavelengths of light from 0.75-5.0µm. In addition, VIAVI's dichroic beamsplitter reflects 0.75-2.6µm, transmits 2.6-5.0µm, and divides the incoming light to the two detector banks.
"Today marks a monumental milestone for our entire team at VIAVI," said Luke Scrivanich, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Optical Security and Performance, VIAVI. "We collaborated with JPL and Caltech engineers, overcame technical challenges, and pushed the boundaries of excellence for our precision optical filters. Congratulations to the NASA, JPL, and Caltech teams."
The SPHEREx spectrophotometer design builds on VIAVI's contributions to previous space missions that include Linear Variable Filter technology, including the LEISA instrument on New Horizons that captured spectral images of Jupiter and Pluto, the OVIRS instrument for OSIRIS-REx which explored the surface of the asteroid Bennu, and the MISE instrument on Europa Clipper which will map the surface ice on Jupiter's moon Europa.
About VIAVI
VIAVI (NASDAQ: VIAV) is a global provider of network test, monitoring and assurance solutions for telecommunications, cloud, enterprises, first responders, military, aerospace and railway. VIAVI is also a leader in light management technologies for 3D sensing, anti-counterfeiting, consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, government and aerospace applications. Learn more about VIAVI at www.viavisolutions.com. Follow us on VIAVI Perspectives, LinkedIn and YouTube.
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SOURCE VIAVI Solutions
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