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My hazy memory is that the NRO offered NASA a few satellite bodies that they could populate with optic systems. Since they were originally designed for monitori
by atommclain 5y ago
My hazy memory is that the NRO offered NASA a few satellite bodies that they could populate with optic systems. Since they were originally designed for monitoring earth they aren’t well suited for capturing data at much longer distances. If I recall correctly I think someone explained that it’s like trying to peer through a straw, it works, but ideally you’d want a much wider field of view. And apparently the James Web telescope handles this much better.
- Y_Y 5y agoThey're launching one, the other is waiting for a use-case.
- privong 5y agoThe NRO satellites actually have an optical design with a larger field of view than Hubble does. One of the NRO spacecraft busses is being use for the WFIRST / Nancy Grace Roman space telescope because of the wider field of view.
- atommclain 5y agoGood info, thanks for the corrections!