A new era in the search for exoplanets—and the alien life they might host—has begun. Aboard a SpaceX rocket, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched April 18th 2018. The TESS mission, developed with support from The Kavli Foundation, is led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research. Over the next two years, TESS will scan the 200,000 or so nearest and brightest stars to Earth for telltale dimming caused when exoplanets cross their stars' faces.  TESS carries four visible wideband, seven-element, refractive F/1.4 lenses, each with a 34 degree diagonal field of view.  This talk will describe the methods used for the assembly, alignment and test of the optical assemblies. 

Gregory Balonek earned an M.S. and B.S from the University of Rochester and an A.A.S degree from Monroe Community College.   Joining MIT Lincoln Laboratory in 2014, Gregory is currently a member of the optical engineering group where his primary focus is on the assembly, integration and test of various optical systems. Gregory has been involved in the optical community for many years starting his career at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics in Rochester NY.  He is a current NES/OSA member and enjoys educational outreach including teaching a Hands on Holography course during MIT’s Independent Activities Period (IAP).