Open AccessConcept for a large scalable space telescope: in-space assembly
Author(s) -
W. R. Oegerle,
Lloyd Purves,
Jason Budinoff,
Rud Moe,
Tim Carnahan,
D. C. Evans,
C. K. Kim
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
proceedings of spie, the international society for optical engineering/proceedings of spie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Conference proceedings
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.192
H-Index - 176
eISSN - 1996-756X
pISSN - 0277-786X
DOI - 10.1117/12.672244
Subject(s) - telescope , spitzer space telescope , aerospace engineering , aperture (computer memory) , observatory , robotic spacecraft , orbital mechanics , space technology , remote sensing , james webb space telescope , infrared telescope , computer science , space research , physics , spacecraft , optics , satellite , engineering , astronomy , geology , acoustics
We present a conceptual design for a scalable (10-50 meter segmented filled-aperture) space observatory operating at UV-optical-near infrared wavelengths. This telescope is designed for assembly in space by robots, astronauts or a combination of the two, as envisioned in NASA's Vision for Space Exploration. Our operations concept for this space telescope provides for assembly and check-out in an Earth Moon L2 (EML2) orbit, and transport to a Sun-Earth L2 (SEL2) orbit for science operations and routine servicing, with return to EML2 for major servicing. We have developed and analyzed initial designs for the optical, structural, thermal and attitude control systems for a 30-m aperture space telescope. We further describe how the separate components are packaged for launch by heavy lift vehicle(s) and the approach for the robot assembly of the telescope from these components.
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