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Category: astro
Posted on: August 27, 2008 12:41 PM, by Steinn Sigurðsson
In case you missed the announcement: NASA is contemplating concepts for the next generation optical/ultra-violet space telescope
Marc Postman and Ken Sembach are leading the concept study teams, looking at 16m telescope, for launch on the Ares heavy to L2.
Optimised for blue light spectroscopy.
STSCI press release
I infer they are contemplating a free-floating occulter if the plan is to have direct detection of terrestrials as part of the science case.
Interesting.
Physical ScienceTrackBack URL for this entry: http://scienceblogs.com/mt/pings/79801
Comments
I've always favored the idea of a constellation of satellites (aligned with laser interferometry). We should probably try that for lower wavelengths first though.
Posted by: travc | August 28, 2008 5:41 AM
Awfully skinny robotic arm holding the whole primary up...
Posted by: JohnD | August 28, 2008 12:22 PM
Ain't it just.
I know it is in free fall, but there's still some torque on it. If they want to point...
Posted by: Steinn Sigurdsson | August 28, 2008 12:47 PM
The arm isn't holding the primary up, it's holding the sunshield down.
I don't think they want that connection to be stiff. Look at the problems HST had with solar panel "breathing." But anyway, it's just a concept. Stuff changes. The other day, I noticed that tacked to a corkboard down the hall from my office is the coversheet of the AO in 1983 for the Shuttle InfraRed Telescope Facility.
Posted by: Ben | August 29, 2008 12:54 AM
Optimised for blue light spectroscopy... Very interesting indeed. I wonder exactly what range it covers.
Posted by: Invader Xan | August 31, 2008 7:38 PM