Construction of the 18 mirror segments that will make up the optical system for NASA‘s James Webb Space Telescope has completed the initial phase.

In the first step, molten beryllium was compressed into 18 hexagonal units called blanks, each weighing 553 pounds and measuring 1. 5 meters across. The blanks were produced by Brush Wellman‘s Beryllium Products business unit in Elmore, Ohio. The project represents the largest quantity of Brush Wellman’s 0-30 optical grade material processed for a single order. Work began in September 2003, and during peak production more than 80 people were working on the primary mirror segment project.

The blanks now will be shipped to Axsys Technologies Inc. in Alabama for machining and then to SSG Tinsley in California for polishing and testing. Ball Aerospace & Technologies was responsible for the initial mirror manufacturing.

Prime contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. will assemble and test the telescope, which is scheduled to be launched in 2011.