Biography

Sandrine Roux discovered her passion for astronomy early on and has never lost sight of the night sky. An aerospace engineer by training, she has built a career at the intersection of astronomy, space engineering, and large scientific infrastructures, focusing on technologies that enable modern astronomical observation. With over 25 years of experience, she has held senior programme management roles, contributing to the construction of the Square Kilometre Array (The UK, South Africa, and Australia) and playing a key role in the ALMA telescopes in Chile.

She also led the space activities of an Earth-observation satellite start-up, from initial concepts to signed contracts. Now a Business Development Manager specialising in optics for large telescopes and space systems, she is an active mentor and academic partnership lead with the Space Women Alliance (SWAN), promoting diversity and knowledge sharing across the astronomy/space sector.

Synopsis

From sand to stars: The remarkable birth of astronomical mirrors

Safran Reosc is a global leader in the manufacture of high-precision mirrors for astronomy. Starting from a single block of material, the company uses advanced polishing and metrology techniques to create mirrors that capture the faintest light from distant stars. Depending on the telescope’s needs, Safran Reosc produces impressive monolithic or segmented mirrors made up of hundreds of perfectly assembled pieces, such as for the immense ELT at ESO.

The company also pioneers adaptive mirrors, which adjust in real time to compensate for atmospheric turbulence, ensuring sharper images. Join us on a journey to discover how these exceptional mirrors are born, the key steps in their fabrication, and the diverse types developed to meet the unique requirements of cutting-edge astronomical telescopes and instruments.