8 research outputs found
Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST): A Technology Roadmap for the Next Decade
Full text linkThe Advanced Technology Large-Aperture Space Telescope (ATLAST) is a set of
mission concepts for the next generation of UVOIR space observatory with a
primary aperture diameter in the 8-m to 16-m range that will allow us to
perform some of the most challenging observations to answer some of our most
compelling questions, including "Is there life elsewhere in the Galaxy?" We
have identified two different telescope architectures, but with similar optical
designs, that span the range in viable technologies. The architectures are a
telescope with a monolithic primary mirror and two variations of a telescope
with a large segmented primary mirror. This approach provides us with several
pathways to realizing the mission, which will be narrowed to one as our
technology development progresses. The concepts invoke heritage from HST and
JWST design, but also take significant departures from these designs to
minimize complexity, mass, or both.
Our report provides details on the mission concepts, shows the extraordinary
scientific progress they would enable, and describes the most important
technology development items. These are the mirrors, the detectors, and the
high-contrast imaging technologies, whether internal to the observatory, or
using an external occulter. Experience with JWST has shown that determined
competitors, motivated by the development contracts and flight opportunities of
the new observatory, are capable of achieving huge advances in technical and
operational performance while keeping construction costs on the same scale as
prior great observatories.Comment: 22 pages, RFI submitted to Astro2010 Decadal Committe
The astrobiology primer: An outline of general knowledge - Version 1, 2006
Full text linkPeer reviewe
New Worlds Observer Telescope and Instrument Optical Design Concepts
No full textOptical design concepts for the telescope and instrumentation for NASA's New Worlds Observer program are presented. First order parameters are derived from the science requirements, and estimated performance metrics are shown using optical models. A four meter multiple channel telescope is discussed, as well as a suite of science instrument concepts. Wide field instrumentation (imager and spectrograph) would be accommodated by a three-mirror anastigmat telescope design. Planet finding and characterization would use a separate channel which is picked off after the first two mirrors (primary and secondary). Guiding concepts are also discussed
