Next phase of SPO development

With the recently announced new ESA contract advancing Silicon Pore Optics (SPO) for Athena, cosine and its partner Micronit (NL) are delighted to continue their ongoing partnership. The two companies are celebrating a remarkable 15-year journey of collaboration in the development of Silicon Pore Optics in preparation for the European Space Agency’s (ESA) future large X-ray telescope, Athena.

cosine has awarded Micronit a contract that continues the SPO technology development, together with other multiple partners from industry and academia involved in this ambitious project. Micronit has been involved in the very early phases of the SPO program and is since then a longstanding partner, for more than 15 years. This enduring partnership has been characterized by innovation, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence and resulted in many solutions not only for the Athena project, but also for other joint customers.

Max Collon, Managing Director of cosine High Energy Optics comments: “We know Micronit and their team for more than 20 years and work very efficiently on solutions for our customers. I am very happy that this partnership will continue in the future.”

Reflecting on the robust alliance between Micronit and cosine over the past 15 years, Mark Olde Riekerink, Sr Business Development Manager at Micronit, states: “Our partnership with cosine underscores a shared vision for excellence and ambition. Both parties are strongly committed to implementing Silicon Pore Optics technology in ESA’s Athena mission.”
 
 

Silicon mirror plates used for SPO technology

The collaborative spirit between cosine and Micronit is an example of how such partnerships help realizing a completely novel type of X-ray mirror, which enables ESA’s Athena mission, being the largest X-ray telescope to be launched in the 2030s. Athena (Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics) is ESA’s future large X-ray telescope, equipped with state-of-the-art scientific instruments. It is designed to address key questions in astrophysics as part of the Cosmic Vision science theme, “The Hot and Energetic Universe”. For this ambitious project, cosine is developing and supplying hundreds of X-ray optics mirror modules, using its Silicon Pore Optics technology.

We look forward to continuing our journey with Micronit and other partners in this next phase, as we get ready for mass production of the Silicon Pore Optics for the Athena mission.

About cosine
cosine is a leading worldwide company in the development of space instrumentation, such as Silicon Pore Optics or remote sensing solutions with onboard processing. We combine physics and technology to bring out-of-the-box solutions to our clients. We have been developing and delivering innovative measurement systems for space and industrial applications since 1998. Our company operates 1,000 m2 of cleanrooms and high-tech assembly facilities to build and test the systems we produce for customers at our headquarters in Sassenheim, The Netherlands.

About Micronit
Micronit is a trusted leader in high-quality microfluidic solutions. Their specialized team empowers clients to bring innovative products to market in life science and healthcare with cutting-edge technology and personalized support. Founded in 1999, the company has extensive experience in developing and manufacturing high-quality products for customers worldwide. Micronit’s products are used in a variety of applications, including life science and healthcare.