Exosens Enables X-Ray Imaging onboard the SMILE Mission
Exosens (the parent company of Photonis) advanced Micro Pore Optics (MPOs), manufactured at its Brive-la-Gaillarde facility in France, have been selected and integrated into the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument aboard the SMILE mission, which has successfully launched as of May 19, 2026.
Developed as a joint mission between the European Space Agency and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, SMILE will deliver the first comprehensive observations of Earth’s magnetosphere’s response to the solar wind, advancing our understanding of space weather and its impact on modern technology and human activity.
At the heart of the SXI instrument, developed and built by the University of Leicester, is a wide-field X-ray telescope enabled by 32 high-performance MPOs supplied by Exosens. These optics play a critical role in capturing continuous, large-scale X-ray images of the interaction between solar wind particles and Earth’s magnetic environment. With this capability, SMILE will become the first mission to provide detailed, long-duration X-ray observations of Earth’s magnetosphere.
Enabling a New Perspective on Space Weather
As the largest instrument onboard SMILE, SXI will deliver unprecedented, long-duration observations of Earth’s magnetic environment. Visualizing how our planet responds to solar wind and geomagnetic activity will help scientists better understand and ultimately anticipate space weather events that can impact satellites, communications systems, and astronaut safety.
Its optical design, inspired by the structure of a lobster’s eye, uses a dense array of square microchannels to funnel X-ray light onto two detectors. This approach is made possible by Exosens’s MPO technology, which is exceptionally compact and low mass, while delivering high-precision X-ray focusing. It operates through total external reflection at grazing incidence within the uniformly iridium-coated micropore channels, enabling efficient and accurate collection.
A Strong Endorsement of Exosens Technology
The selection of Exosens MPOs for the SMILE mission highlights the performance, reliability, and maturity of the company’s optical technologies in the most demanding environments.
“We’re incredibly proud and honored to be part of the SMILE mission. Having our Micro Pore Optics selected for SXI speaks to the expertise and dedication of our team. Space missions demand the highest levels of innovation, precision, and reliability. Our MPOs are designed to meet these challenges, delivering high-performance X-ray imaging. Exosens’ state-of-the-art MPO technology will contribute to expanding our knowledge of space weather and help protect critical infrastructure and future space exploration,” said Ulrich Laupper, President & Executive General Manager of Exosens Ultimate Detection Business Unit.
Proven Technology for the Most Demanding Missions
Exosens MPOs are square-channel optics engineered to collimate and focus X-ray and photons with extreme precision. Manufactured with near-perfect internal surface flatness, very low roughness, and homogeneous thin layer coating, these MPOs provide a highly efficient alternative to conventional X-ray optics.
Their integration into SMILE highlights Exosens’s continued role in enabling next-generation space instrumentation and reinforces the company’s position as a trusted partner for advanced photonic solutions.
About Photonis
Photonis is a leading product brand of Exosens, a high-tech company with more than 85 years of experience in the innovation, development, manufacture, and sale of high-end electro-optical technologies. Photonis offers photo-detection and low-light-conditions imaging solutions for extremely demanding environments. Applications for the company’s products include Defense & Security, Nuclear Safety, Life Sciences & Environment, and Industrial Control & Non-Destructive Testing. The Photonis brand is internationally recognized as a major innovator in its fields with production and R&D sites in Europe and North America.
To request more information or a quotation for Photonis products, contact IL Photonics.