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.
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.
Awfully skinny robotic arm holding the whole primary up...
Ain't it just.
I know it is in free fall, but there's still some torque on it. If they want to point...
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.
Optimised for blue light spectroscopy... Very interesting indeed. I wonder exactly what range it covers.