We’ve Been Looking at Space Since 1950

Our Optical Systems facility in Rochester Hills, MI, has been serving the air and space industries with reflective optics since the 1950s.   

Originally known as Speedring Systems, the site later became a part of Axsys Technologies (1996). The group was acquired by CMM Optic (Troy, MI) in 2020.  

All senior engineering staff and technicians remained at the facility through the transition to CMM Optic, bringing vast skill sets with them and transferring knowledge and experience to our expanded team.

The majority of our team members have over 20 years of experience at this facility alone, which has been invaluable to our continued service to the space community.

Where Optics Meets Engineering—and Reality

Some of our earliest mirrors date back to the dawn of the space race, and since those auspicious days, we transitioned to building fully assembled and aligned telescopes in the late 1980’s.

Since then, we have designed and created over 50 space-based telescopes, with both beryllium and aluminum construction, fielded for dozens of programs.

Our Lengthy History of Imaging in Space

FELIX: Our first in-space telescope was built in 1988.  A 150mm off-axis afocal, Gregorian telescope for satellite-based FSO laser telecommunication.

POLAR Spacecraft – VIS Imager:  This project launched in 1996 and was terminated.

TIMED Mission – TIDI Interferometer:  Launched in 2001 – Mission was extended and is still active today.

Mars Odyssey – Thermal Emission Imaging System:  Launched in 2021, the Mission was extended and is also active today.

VIIRS Weather Satellite – Infrared Imager: Launched in 2011 and still active and sharing data.

JAMI Weather Satellite – 0.2 m, 3 mirror anastigmatic telescope:  Launched in 2005/Terminated in 2015

Europa Clipper – Thermal Emission Imaging System: Launched in 2024. On station in 2031, and mission ending in 2034.