NASA moon mission is one giant leap for Zeeko
It is one small step towards Man's return to the moon - but one giant leap for a small Leicestershire engineering firm. Nasa is to map the lunar surface to find a safe landing ground for astronauts due to go there in 2020.
When the space agency's £345 million Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft lifts off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, next month, on board will be powerful lenses created by machines manufactured in Leicestershire.
Coalville company Zeeko, which specialises in machines which make optics for cameras and telescopes, won a £1 million contract to supply two of its devices to Light Works Optics, of California.
Light Works used the machines to produce the lenses for the lunar orbiter.
Richard Freeman, Zeeko's co-founder and managing director, said: "We are delighted about this. It's one of the pinnacles for us and a bit of a childhood dream."
He revealed the company was in talks with Nasa officials about another space-related project, but said it was too early to give details.
Technical engineer Robert Darlison, 58, of Syston, went to California to carry out maintenance work on the lens-making machines.
He said: "Working for a company which is involved in the space industry is really exciting."
Experts believe Nasa will use the landing ground identified on the moon as a launch pad for a manned mission to Mars.
Mr Darlison said: "It's fantastic that these machines could help in a manned mission to Mars. It's certainly different to my previous job working with machine tools."
Grey Hautaluoma, spokesman for Nasa, said: "There are high expectations of all suppliers to Nasa projects. This is an important mission in Nasa's return to the moon."
As many recession-hit manufacturing firms struggle to stay afloat, fast-growing Zeeko is on track to treble turnover to £9 million over the next two years.
The company also recently won a £2.5 million contract to create a machine to make mirror segments for the European Southern Observatory - set to be the world's biggest telescope.
Zeeko, currently in Hermitage Industrial Estate, is due to relocate to Leicester Science Park, off Abbey Lane, in the autumn, where it will double its workforce to 60.
Leicester businessman Dennis Kent, vice-president of the Midlands branch of the Engineering Employers' Federation, said: "This highlights the level of hi-tech expertise there is in the county.
"This is great news for manufacturing in Leicestershire.
"Zeeko's association with Nasa will hopefully attract more hi-tech companies and jobs to Leicestershire."
Source: Leicester Mercury