Inprentus Delivered Solar Mission Gratings
The Champaign-based company provided seven specialized optics to support NASA's upcoming ESIS-II mission.
Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Space
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In early August 2026, Champaign-based Inprentus delivered the first seven of fourteen diffraction gratings for NASA's ESIS-II solar mission. These specialized optics are designed to diffract extreme ultraviolet light, enabling the instrument to capture simultaneous video.
Why it matters
The gratings enable the ESIS-II instrument to observe solar activity across multiple wavelengths, which is expected to improve space weather forecasting for both satellites and crewed space missions.
The gratings feature a specialized triangular shape formed on surfaces curved to match a six-foot-diameter sphere. Manufacturing required a digital ruling architecture with nine axes of control.
The players
Inprentus
This Champaign-based optics company specializes in high-precision diffraction gratings and lithography.
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and space research.
Peter Abbamonte
A University of Illinois professor who founded Inprentus in 2012 to commercialize advanced manufacturing technologies.
The details
Inprentus produced the optics using a contact lithography tool that follows precise curved contours. The company was established in 2012 by University of Illinois Professor Peter Abbamonte.
Timeline
Inprentus was founded by Peter Abbamonte in 2012.
The first set of seven gratings was delivered in early August 2026.
Final flight-ready gratings are scheduled for delivery later in 2026.
Deeper Dive
The production of these gratings follows the trajectory of NASA's ESIS-II solar mission, which aims to provide high-resolution solar imaging. This delivery marks a critical hardware milestone for the mission's future scientific output.
Improved solar weather forecasting helps mitigate damage to satellites that power global telecommunications and GPS infrastructure. Precise space weather data also enhances the safety of personnel during future crewed missions.
The takeaway
The successful manufacturing of these high-precision components highlights the role of specialized regional engineering in supporting large-scale federal scientific research. Advancements in lithography allow for increasingly sophisticated instrumentation in space-based observation.
What happens next
Inprentus is scheduled to deliver the remaining flight-ready gratings to NASA later in 2026.
Further reading
For more on ongoing research and exploration, visit the Space section.
More information
For additional technical specifications, visit the Inprentus official company website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Startup Fortune.
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