Physics – Optics
Scientific paper
Jan 1990
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1990ngst.conf...31i&link_type=abstract
The Next Generation Space Telescope, p. 31
Physics
Optics
Spaceborne Telescopes, Cost Analysis, Management Planning, Research And Development, Hubble Space Telescope, Ultraviolet Telescopes, Infrared Telescopes
Scientific paper
A large 10-16 m passively-cooled, diffraction-limited, filled-aperture space telescope would have unprecedented power for tackling a wide range of the most fundamental astrophysical problems, from the detection of earth-like planets to the structure of galaxies and protogalaxies at redshifts z > 1. The telescope would have a lightweight, segmented primary with active wavefront sensing and control for diffraction-limited performance into the UV. The structure and optics would be passively-cooled to 100 K, lowering the background in the 3-4 micron zodiacal "window" to less than 10-6 of that from the ground. State-of-the-art mosaics of detectors would give diffraction-limited imaging and spectroscopy over a field of > 2 arcmin from 0.3 microns to beyond 10 microns, and nearly 1 arcmin in the UV. The observatory would combine remarkable imaging performance, with resolutions ranging from a few mas in the UV to some 40-60 mas in the zodiacal "window" at 3 microns, and with even greater capability for spectrographic observations of faint and/or low surface brightness objects at the highest spatial resolution. The rationale for such an observatory is discussed in the light of HST and the other Great Observatories, and of expected gains in ground-based telescopes and computing capability. The importance of moving into concept development, and to technology development and evaluation programs, is highlighted within the context of the very long lead times for such missions to come to fruition. The importance of the new optics and structures technologies in breaking away from our current cost curve for large missions, and the potential gains from an enhanced national commitment to space are noted.
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