4 ms·
Why would you assemble it at L2 instead of assembling it in LEO and then sending it out on its own?
by feoren 2y ago
Why would you assemble it at L2 instead of assembling it in LEO and then sending it out on its own?
- rickydroll 2y agoIt is not impossible. But you would have to design the telescope to be a rocketship complete with motors, fuel tanks, and all that other fun stuff. That would significantly increase the telescope's complexity to withstand the force and vibration of a rocket engine. Theoretically, one could use ion drives, but the engineering challenges of creating ion drives capable of moving a few hundred tons of telescope are significant. It is much simpler to build the telescope equivalent of IKEA flatpack furniture and assemble it on-site than it is to build it and then move it.
- Asraelite 2y ago> the engineering challenges of creating ion drives capable of moving a few hundred tons of telescope are significant. Why? Just take existing ion engine designs but use a lot of them.