Space robot to assemble a new super telescope in space
Hubble follows Webb, and Webb follows a telescope too large to be assembled except in space. Researchers have now investigated how to achieve this.
Project Pulsar: A robot that picks up hexagonal mirror elements to assemble into a telescope with high accuracy during testing.
Photo: DLR
The robot is installed on a platform in spaceStsteadily at work. He grabs hexagonal mirror pieces one by one from a pile and gradually fuses the pieces together to form a giant mirror telescope. It is so large that it will not fit any missile in the world at once. At least that’s how it can be seen in an animated movie.
Already with James’ successor who just started–web–Space telescope, such a scenario is likely. When folded, the “Webb” just fits Rocket. This wouldn’t be possible with a much larger next-generation space telescope, for example with the so-called Luvoir-A telescope by NASA, which is said to have a 15-meter mirror made of 36 hexagonal elements.
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