Behind every successful space mission is a blend of precise engineering and curiosity, and Schneider-Kreuznach’s lenses seem to embody this spirit in NASA’s Artemis program.

The company’s ruggedized Tourmaline 2.0/35 C lenses are integrated into the optical navigation (OpNav) camera system aboard the Orion spacecraft, helping it navigate its journey to and from the Moon, according to a press release issued by the company.

The OpNav system captures images using a 5.3-megapixel monochrome sensor paired with Schneider-Kreuznach lenses, which have been specially adapted to maintain performance under harsh spaceflight conditions such as vibration, temperature fluctuations, and vacuum. These lenses support navigation and imaging functions for the Artemis lunar exploration program and were first qualified during Artemis I. They have since supported Artemis II and will be used in Artemis III.

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Beyond their navigation function, the lenses have enabled the capture of detailed images of Earth and the Moon, including the far side of the Moon, providing data for mission analysis. Schneider-Kreuznach’s work reflects the interdisciplinary collaboration and engineering problem-solving essential to space exploration and demonstrates how durable, high-performance optics contribute to mission success

“We are especially pleased to have had Schneider lenses chosen for this important Artemis mission, as it illustrates our highly robust quality as well as their incredible high-resolution capabilities,” Schneider Optics’ CEO Stuart Singer told Vision Systems Design. “Everyone at Schneider is thrilled to have made a contribution to this historic space mission.”