Blank Vault

The ELT’s M2 Blank being stowed at SCHOTT’s factory in Mainz, Germany. The mirror blank will be transported to France for final grinding and polishing by Safran Reosc, safely nestled in an extra-large transport box.

M2 will be the largest ever secondary mirror employed on a telescope, as well as the largest convex mirror ever produced. Fabricating this highly convex, aspherical mirror is a considerable challenge — and the result will be a truly remarkable example of pioneering optical engineering. The secondary mirror and its support system — weighing 12 tonnes —  will hang upside-down high above the 39-metre primary mirror.