Building and post a scope into space has its risks . There are a million and one things that can go untimely . Every single element has to be test and then tack together , and then the whole telescope is tested again until it ’s all good to go . Then it ’s strapped to a rocket full of swimming explosive and shot into space . Now NASA might have an alternative that is importantly less risky – aself - assembling telescope .
The idea is to send small inexpensive constituent as extra payloads of already scheduled launches over a catamenia of months or even days . These will then navigate to where the scope is supposed to be build and assemble into the preprogrammed invention . The components will pilot using solar canvas that will then become the sunshine - shield of the new cat’s-paw .
The project has been be active to Phase I of the NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts ( NIAC ) computer programme . It was devised by Dmitry Savransky of Cornell University along with 15 other US - based scientist . NASA awarded the winners of the conception $ 125,000 to determine whether the project can really be make as they proposed .
“ That ’s what the NIAC course of study is , ” aver Savransky in astatement . “ You pitch these moderately crazy - sounding idea , but then judge to back them up with a few initial calculations , and then it ’s a 9 - month project where you ’re trying to answer feasibleness doubtfulness . ”
If these feasibility studies are successful the project will move into Phase II . The system would be formed from hexangular modules , each about 1 meter ( 3.3 foot ) across . Therefore , the proposed telescope will end up being more than 30 meters ( 98 feet ) astray , big than any lookout station we have currently placed in outer space or that we would set in motion in the near futurity . The James Webb Space Telescope , which will launch in 2020 , has a primary mirror that is 6.5 meter ( 21 substructure ) across .
“ As autonomous spacecraft become more common and as we continue to improve how we build very small spacecraft , it crap a lot of sensation to ask Savransky ’s question,“saidMason Peck , Cornell associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and former primary engineering science officer at NASA . " Is it possible to construct a outer space telescope that can see farther , and well , using only inexpensive diminished components that ego - assemble in ambit ? ”
Hopefully , the result to this question will arrive soon .
