The recently launched James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is set to help rewrite our understanding of the cosmos. Already, astronomers have looked further back into the early universe than ever before — and crucial to the telescope capturing light from over 13 billion years ago are its massive mirrors.
The primary mirror, with its iconic hexagonal shape, is more than two stories in diameter and consists of 18 separate segments. All of these segments must be perfectly smooth, flat and scratch-free so as to provide a flawless image of distant astronomical objects.
Now these mirrors, developed over a decades-long effort by NASA, are helping eye surgeons improve the vision of millions of people by enhancing the accuracy of laser-assisted (LASIK) eye surgery.
Read More: How the James Webb Space Telescope Takes Such Stunning Pictures
The construction of the JWST mirror segments involved rigorous measuring, grinding, polishing and testing — one ...
