In the Search for Extraterrestrial Life, You Need Incredibly Sensitive Equipment
When designing and building satellites that will scan over a million stars in search of Earth-like planets and the potential for life, precision is key.
Edited by Terry Persun
Cool Stuff
Jun 29, 2026
Aerospace
The search for extraterrestrial lifeforms has been the focus for many of the space endeavors during the 20th and 21st centuries. So, are we any closer to finding an answer? And what do we need to do technologically to observe our solar system?
It is simply not possible to send people into space to do the searching. Instead, we rely on incredibly sensitive equipment that is able to detect the subtle variations that reveal the types of environments existing on planets within and beyond our solar system. The fact we are here at all means that we know for sure that rocky planets with liquid water are able to support organic life. Which means that these qualities are high on the list of signals to search for.
At the forefront of this search for extraterrestrial life is OHB, a leading European space engineering company specializing in satellites and space systems. The projects OHB supports include a wide range of stakeholders, from weather forecasting to precision agriculture, to civil security. To achieve this, OHB requires absolute precision in its processes, particularly in areas such as optics and assembly. According to Bernhard Sang, Chief Engineer, Optical Missions & Instruments, OHB System AG, The challenge in building satellites is that only one or two are built and they need to work perfectly throughout the mission.”
Planet Hunting Satellite
One of OHB’s key projects is PLATO, a planet-hunting satellite designed to detect Earth-like planets capable of supporting life. Equipped with 24 cameras that are aligned using micron-sized shivs, PLATO will study stars and their planets in precise detail. The satellite can study the diameter of a dime from a distance of 300 km. The manufacturing of PLATO requires highly exacting, micron-level precision to ensure it is fully capable of detecting minuscule dips in starlight—the indicators of planets transiting their stars. Plus, during takeoff, the satellite and its components must endure 50g of g-force energy. Choosing Hexagon as their preferred supplier of metrology solutions has given the team the assurance that they are using the most accurate technology available on the market to achieve their objectives. OHB use Hexagon’s laser trackers, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs), and software.
The laser trackers are designed specifically for medium to large part inspection and large-scale assembly applications. The units are portable and offer precise 3D measurement to reflectors along with six-degrees-of-freedom functionality, laser trackers support handheld probes, laser scanners, and machine control solutions for versatile, high-performance metrology. Hexagon CMMs deliver exceptional accuracy, seamless workflows, and advanced software integration. As for software, Hexagon’s VGSTUDIO MAX provides non-destructive insights across every stage of the product lifecycle. With a comprehensive suite of inspection tools including CT reconstruction, AI-driven segmentation, GD&T analysis, material evaluation, and simulation. VGSTUDIO MAX is the preferred software for precision-focused industries.
OHB faced several challenges during the PLATO project, particularly the micron-level accuracy required while protecting against the harsh conditions of space, such as temperature extremes (-150°C to +150°C) and high launch accelerations (up to 50G). In addition, they needed clean room conditions to prevent contamination of any optics. In collaboration with OHB, Hexagon was able to modify the CMM to operate within an ISO5 clean room for measurement of the PLATO system, ensuring all components, even the grease used, had no negative impact on the cleanliness of the environment.One of the major challenges for the project was camera alignment. The precise alignment of 24 cameras is performed using Hexagon’s laser trackers, while Hexagon’s CMMs supported the process by measuring sub-micrometer shims, which are introduced to the system until perfect alignment is reached.
Non-destructive testing software solutions from Hexagon helped optimize soldering processes and predict material wear, which contributes to overall operational reliability. The software makes it possible to see the evolution of any solder cracks, so the team can optimize the soldering process and avoid the cracks starting in the first place. With the extreme conditions and extremely tight tolerances, solutions such as these are critical for improved system durability.
One of the universal truths of space exploration is that it takes an enormous amount of collaboration to achieve successful missions. This is vital because the unique demands of space-grade manufacturing require adaptability, trust in data, and different departments working together with unity and precision. OHB and Hexagon believe that quality drives every decision since there is no room for error. In the extreme environments found in space, every component puts pressure on the whole; any flaw or misalignment can have catastrophic results. OHB and Hexagon’s commitment to quality ensures that humanity can continue to explore the deep universe and find the answer to that fundamental question of whether we are alone or part of a web more vast than we can possibly comprehend.
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