Cornell University has a NASA NIAC study for a fully modular self-assembled massive space telescope. They are taking mirrors segments based on the current James Webb space telescope mirror segments and then adding in some adjustments so that each piece can function in any random location. They also add solar sails and velcro attachments so that the modules with solar sails can come in contact and stick together. After the object settle then they use magnets to creep into the exactly the correct position to fit together for a larger telescope mirror. The solar sail would be detached and tethered as a sunshade.
800 some modules could form a 30-meter space telescope. Such a telescope would be able to image the surface of an exoplanet and differentiate between a world with a supercontinent or with other continent distributions.
They have determined the best orbit to assemble the modules. It is an orbit with some complexity but with the benefit that modules would bump into each other at low speeds.
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they should build infinitely modular telescopes where each mirror attaches itself to a beam behind with a help of a robotic arm and the beams continue to be assembled to the structure. Thus we could see in great detail all the exoplanets a 100 light years around us.
they should build infinitely modular telescopes where each mirror attaches itself to a beam behind with a help of a robotic arm and the beams continue to be assembled to the structure. Thus we could see in great detail all the exoplanets a 100 light years around us.
A job for the falcon heavy. I wonder how many modules one launch could carry?
A job for the falcon heavy. I wonder how many modules one launch could carry?
The chief obstacle is that it would be kind of floppy, you’d have trouble stabilizing all the mirrors at the same time to a common focal point. And every time you added another mirror, you’d have to damp out the vibrations again. I favor a sparse array where the mirror segments don’t actually touch each other, and thus can’t transmit vibration from one to the next. Instead they’d fly in formation, using long term very low thrust engines for positioning relative to a single laser reference. Fission fragment would be good for this sort of ultra low thrust long term application. With that sort of setup, the telescope could function continuously as segments were added.
Probably going to be volume-limited instead of mass-limited, though this concept could first be actualized when the BFR is tested and flying, too.
Super neat concept, but relies heavily on solar sails, which are currently the main crux of the delays for JWST. Hopefully by the time it flies, those issues will be sorted out.
The chief obstacle is that it would be kind of floppy you’d have trouble stabilizing all the mirrors at the same time to a common focal point. And every time you added another mirror you’d have to damp out the vibrations again.I favor a sparse array where the mirror segments don’t actually touch each other and thus can’t transmit vibration from one to the next. Instead they’d fly in formation using long term very low thrust engines for positioning relative to a single laser reference. Fission fragment would be good for this sort of ultra low thrust long term application.With that sort of setup the telescope could function continuously as segments were added.
Probably going to be volume-limited instead of mass-limited though this concept could first be actualized when the BFR is tested and flying too.
Super neat concept but relies heavily on solar sails which are currently the main crux of the delays for JWST. Hopefully by the time it flies those issues will be sorted out.
Is it actually possible to “fly in formation” whilst in orbit? My understanding is that the segments even 10 metres further from the earth would be orbiting slower so the formation would be spread out over time. And those even 10 metres to one side would be on a different great circle so that they separate and close back together over the period of a single orbit.
Is it actually possible to fly in formation”” whilst in orbit?My understanding is that the segments even 10 metres further from the earth would be orbiting slower so the formation would be spread out over time. And those even 10 metres to one side would be on a different great circle so that they separate and close back together over the period of a single orbit.”””
It’s possible, but requires constant station keeping thrust. All the components except one would be in a “powered” orbit, using thrust to maintain their position despite not being in a stable orbit. However, if you put this array at the Earth-Sun system’s L4 or L5 point, the station keeping thrust would be extremely low. It isn’t something you’d want to try in LEO.
It’s possible but requires constant station keeping thrust. All the components except one would be in a powered”” orbit”” using thrust to maintain their position despite not being in a stable orbit.However if you put this array at the Earth-Sun system’s L4 or L5 point”” the station keeping thrust would be extremely low. It isn’t something you’d want to try in LEO.”””
Sounds too complicated. Mass production of the mirror modules make sense. Robots could be used to build a light weight structure to mount the mirror module. The robots could also mount the modules.
Sounds too complicated. Mass production of the mirror modules make sense. Robots could be used to build a light weight structure to mount the mirror module. The robots could also mount the modules.
Photon thrusters seem to be specced for many of these systems using all free flying components for the high precision formation flying, as they are suitable for the precision and continuous duty requirements.
Photon thrusters seem to be specced for many of these systems using all free flying components for the high precision formation flying as they are suitable for the precision and continuous duty requirements.
Photon thrusters seem to be specced for many of these systems using all free flying components for the high precision formation flying, as they are suitable for the precision and continuous duty requirements.
Sounds too complicated. Mass production of the mirror modules make sense. Robots could be used to build a light weight structure to mount the mirror module. The robots could also mount the modules.
Sounds too complicated. Mass production of the mirror modules make sense. Robots could be used to build a light weight structure to mount the mirror module. The robots could also mount the modules.
Sounds too complicated. Mass production of the mirror modules make sense. Robots could be used to build a light weight structure to mount the mirror module. The robots could also mount the modules.
It’s possible, but requires constant station keeping thrust. All the components except one would be in a “powered” orbit, using thrust to maintain their position despite not being in a stable orbit. However, if you put this array at the Earth-Sun system’s L4 or L5 point, the station keeping thrust would be extremely low. It isn’t something you’d want to try in LEO.
It’s possible but requires constant station keeping thrust. All the components except one would be in a powered”” orbit”” using thrust to maintain their position despite not being in a stable orbit.However if you put this array at the Earth-Sun system’s L4 or L5 point”” the station keeping thrust would be extremely low. It isn’t something you’d want to try in LEO.”””
Is it actually possible to “fly in formation” whilst in orbit? My understanding is that the segments even 10 metres further from the earth would be orbiting slower so the formation would be spread out over time. And those even 10 metres to one side would be on a different great circle so that they separate and close back together over the period of a single orbit.
Is it actually possible to fly in formation”” whilst in orbit?My understanding is that the segments even 10 metres further from the earth would be orbiting slower so the formation would be spread out over time. And those even 10 metres to one side would be on a different great circle so that they separate and close back together over the period of a single orbit.”””
The chief obstacle is that it would be kind of floppy, you’d have trouble stabilizing all the mirrors at the same time to a common focal point. And every time you added another mirror, you’d have to damp out the vibrations again. I favor a sparse array where the mirror segments don’t actually touch each other, and thus can’t transmit vibration from one to the next. Instead they’d fly in formation, using long term very low thrust engines for positioning relative to a single laser reference. Fission fragment would be good for this sort of ultra low thrust long term application. With that sort of setup, the telescope could function continuously as segments were added.
The chief obstacle is that it would be kind of floppy you’d have trouble stabilizing all the mirrors at the same time to a common focal point. And every time you added another mirror you’d have to damp out the vibrations again.I favor a sparse array where the mirror segments don’t actually touch each other and thus can’t transmit vibration from one to the next. Instead they’d fly in formation using long term very low thrust engines for positioning relative to a single laser reference. Fission fragment would be good for this sort of ultra low thrust long term application.With that sort of setup the telescope could function continuously as segments were added.
Probably going to be volume-limited instead of mass-limited, though this concept could first be actualized when the BFR is tested and flying, too.
Probably going to be volume-limited instead of mass-limited though this concept could first be actualized when the BFR is tested and flying too.
Super neat concept, but relies heavily on solar sails, which are currently the main crux of the delays for JWST. Hopefully by the time it flies, those issues will be sorted out.
Super neat concept but relies heavily on solar sails which are currently the main crux of the delays for JWST. Hopefully by the time it flies those issues will be sorted out.
It’s possible, but requires constant station keeping thrust. All the components except one would be in a “powered” orbit, using thrust to maintain their position despite not being in a stable orbit.
However, if you put this array at the Earth-Sun system’s L4 or L5 point, the station keeping thrust would be extremely low. It isn’t something you’d want to try in LEO.
A job for the falcon heavy. I wonder how many modules one launch could carry?
A job for the falcon heavy. I wonder how many modules one launch could carry?
they should build infinitely modular telescopes where each mirror attaches itself to a beam behind with a help of a robotic arm and the beams continue to be assembled to the structure. Thus we could see in great detail all the exoplanets a 100 light years around us.
they should build infinitely modular telescopes where each mirror attaches itself to a beam behind with a help of a robotic arm and the beams continue to be assembled to the structure. Thus we could see in great detail all the exoplanets a 100 light years around us.
Is it actually possible to “fly in formation” whilst in orbit?
My understanding is that the segments even 10 metres further from the earth would be orbiting slower so the formation would be spread out over time. And those even 10 metres to one side would be on a different great circle so that they separate and close back together over the period of a single orbit.
The chief obstacle is that it would be kind of floppy, you’d have trouble stabilizing all the mirrors at the same time to a common focal point. And every time you added another mirror, you’d have to damp out the vibrations again.
I favor a sparse array where the mirror segments don’t actually touch each other, and thus can’t transmit vibration from one to the next. Instead they’d fly in formation, using long term very low thrust engines for positioning relative to a single laser reference. Fission fragment would be good for this sort of ultra low thrust long term application.
With that sort of setup, the telescope could function continuously as segments were added.
Probably going to be volume-limited instead of mass-limited, though this concept could first be actualized when the BFR is tested and flying, too.
Super neat concept, but relies heavily on solar sails, which are currently the main crux of the delays for JWST. Hopefully by the time it flies, those issues will be sorted out.
A job for the falcon heavy. I wonder how many modules one launch could carry?
they should build infinitely modular telescopes where each mirror attaches itself to a beam behind with a help of a robotic arm and the beams continue to be assembled to the structure. Thus we could see in great detail all the exoplanets a 100 light years around us.