3 ms·
I have long wondered whether this was inherited in some way from the military research project AOA, "Airborne Optical Adjunct" my brother worked on, decades ago
by ncmncm 5y ago
I have long wondered whether this was inherited in some way from the military research project AOA, "Airborne Optical Adjunct" my brother worked on, decades ago, while a young engineer at Hughes Aircraft. They too used a 747 with a hole in the top and an infrared telescope exposed to open air pointing out of it. Keeping a telescope steady with wind blasting past at hundreds of miles an hour is uniquely challenging.
That system was meant for some sort of missile defense project.
- consumer451 5y agoInteresting, so maybe similar to Hubble in that way. I would love to learn more about this. Seems like fodder for Scott Manley and his ilk.
- Const-me 5y agoThe system you described reminds me of astronomic navigation used in SR-71: https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sr-71-astroinertial-navigation-system-aka-r2-d2-was-crucial-in-blackbird-mission-heres-why/ https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-sr-71-astroinertial-navi...