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If we're still unfolding telescopes I'll be surprised. Seems a lot easier to send segments and just assemble them robotically. Just a bit of actuation in each m
by jvanderbot 3y ago
If we're still unfolding telescopes I'll be surprised. Seems a lot easier to send segments and just assemble them robotically. Just a bit of actuation in each mirror segment, a scaffold, and then you pick and place your way to a 250m telescope that can pick out continents on exoplanets. (I have not done the math to determine if that's the right scale, but clearly multi launch and assemble scales better than bigger rocket and origami.)
- junofan 3y agoWho do you think you are, some kinda JPL engineer ;) Downvoted /s
- guraf 3y agoMaybe this kind of delusional thinking is why he's no longer at NASA...
- jvanderbot 3y agoI picked up these ideas at NASA. Or rather, JPL. They tolerate some crazy talk if you have a decent value proposition.
- LargeTomato 3y agoDefine easier :) if it really were easier I think it would have been done that way. We can't even assemble JWST robotically on earth in a lab at 1G. On orbit manufacturing is not mature enough yet to assemble something like JWST. There are too many problems that need to be solved.
- jvanderbot 3y agoThere was never an era until now (well after JWST design was finalized) that multi-launch was an option. We're referring to the next launch. > We can't even assemble JWST robotically on earth in a lab at 1G. > On orbit manufacturing is not mature enough yet to assemble something like JWST. You may have missed the future-tense-ness of the post.
- LargeTomato 3y agoAhh I see. Not just an armchair rocket scientist but an armchair futurist rocket scientist to bat!
- jvanderbot 3y agoOh a straw man! Let's get it! I drew part of my salary from NASA helping define the roadmaps for in space assembly of telescopes, costs, benefits, and required technology. The pick and place concept is well described in NASA report outs. Thats the only reason I mention it. It's an interesting concept with well established merits. https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-technology/technology-highlights/in-space-telescope-assembly/ https://science.nasa.gov/science-research/science-enabling-t... I'm standing on the upper right of that photo. It was a fun study and I'm lucky to have been in the room at the time
- wrsh07 3y agoAre there good companies focused on robotic assembly in space? Would we expect this to be something space x develops?
- jvanderbot 3y agoMade in Space is working on in-space manufacturing. in-space servicing is the closest angle, and there's a few players I can't recall at the moment.