The MESSIER path finder: a high performance, wide field, fast and distortion free telescope using a curved detector

We present optical design of a high-quality, 36-cm diameter, fast (F/2.5) VIS telescope with a large field of view (1.6°x2.6°) developed for space science applications. The design is based on a bi-folded all-reflective Schmidt scheme using a curved detector. We demonstrate its advantages in terms of optical quality and manufacturability.