Jena-Optronik GmbH

Jena-Optronik GmbH is a German space sensor manufacturer headquartered in Jena, Thuringia. The company was established in 1991 as a joint venture of Deutsche Aerospace (now Airbus Defence and Space) and Jenoptik, commencing operations in April 1992.^[1] Jenoptik acquired full ownership in 2005; Airbus Defence and Space acquired the company in October 2010 and remains the sole owner.^[1] Approximately 250 people are employed.^[2]

Core products include the ASTRO APS active pixel sensor star tracker, of which over 470 units have been sold and more than 200 placed in orbit, including on the Orion spacecraft for Artemis I and II.^[3] The product range also covers the ASTRO XP high-precision star tracker, ASTROgyro inertial reference unit, ASTROtir thermal infrared camera, and the RVS 3000 and RVS 3000-3D LiDAR rendezvous and docking sensors.^[3][2] RVS 3000 sensors support ISS resupply operations via Northrop Grumman's Cygnus spacecraft and are used in Northrop Grumman's Mission Extension Vehicle (MEV) satellite servicing programme.^[2] The company also contributed sensors to the ESA HERA asteroid proximity mission launched in 2024.^[2]