On 28 April 2026, the Space Night Jena 2026 event at the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena highlighted the vibrancy of Thuringia’s evolving role in international space technology. The evening brought together science, industry, students, and the wider public for talks, workshops, and demonstrations exploring the region’s growing footprint in space research and innovation.
Among the varied features of the programme was a live demonstration of our guide star laser. The on-sky show, using a mobile setup with the support of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering IOF in Jena, allowed visitors to see the laser itself, as well as the artificial guide star in the mesosphere, which was visible through small telescopes. The laser guide star, a key tool in adaptive optics for astronomy and space applications, drew curious onlookers during the later hours of the event.
The broader programme included presentations on satellite technology and optics, hands-on workshops, and the launch of a stratospheric balloon. Visitors were able to see up close how precision instruments and novel ideas come together in practical space-related applications.
Our participation at Space Night Jena further featured a presentation by our CTO, Armin Zach, who underscored the collaborative spirit driving space innovation and advanced laser technology in Germany. We were very happy to contribute to the event to bring deep tech developments into a public, interactive context, connecting specialist research to wider interest in space science and engineering – all within a community-led celebration of exploration and discovery.