Innovative telescope architectures for future large space observatories

Ronald S. Polidan; James B. Breckinridge; Charles F. Lillie; Howard A. MacEwen; Martin R. Flannery; Dean R. Dailey

doi:10.1117/1.JATIS.2.4.041211

17 August 2016 Innovative telescope architectures for future large space observatories

Ronald S. Polidan, James B. Breckinridge, Charles F. Lillie, Howard A. MacEwen, Martin R. Flannery, Dean R. Dailey

Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems, Vol. 2, Issue 4, 041211 (August 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.2.4.041211

Abstract

Over the past few years, we have developed a concept for an evolvable space telescope (EST) that is assembled on orbit in three stages, growing from a 4×12-m telescope in Stage 1, to a 12-m filled aperture in Stage 2, and then to a 20-m filled aperture in Stage 3. Stage 1 is launched as a fully functional telescope and begins gathering science data immediately after checkout on orbit. This observatory is then periodically augmented in space with additional mirror segments, structures, and newer instruments to evolve the telescope over the years to a 20-m space telescope. We discuss the EST architecture, the motivation for this approach, and the benefits it provides over current approaches to building and maintaining large space observatories.

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Ronald S. Polidan, James B. Breckinridge, Charles F. Lillie, Howard A. MacEwen, Martin R. Flannery, and Dean R. Dailey "Innovative telescope architectures for future large space observatories," Journal of Astronomical Telescopes, Instruments, and Systems 2(4), 041211 (17 August 2016). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JATIS.2.4.041211

Published: 17 August 2016

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KEYWORDS

Space telescopes

Telescopes

Mirrors

Observatories

Point spread functions

Phase modulation

Space observatories

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