Are Membrane Telescopes The Future of Space-Based Astronomy?
Telescope mirrors are bulky and heavy, and there's a limit to what you can fit inside a rocket fairing. But what if your telescope was a membrane, less than a millimeter thick and could be stuffed into a rocket fairing? My guest today has built a prototype membrane telescope that be deployed in space, allowing 6 20-meter space telescopes in a single launch.
Watch the video here (with no ads) or on YouTube: https://youtu.be/36t-UGXfllk
Comments (4)
The telescope itself insights the deeds of discovery, wasn’t that Homer?
Thank you for the wonderful interview and interesting conversation
How does he intend to roll up a parabola-shaped coated polymer mirror without causing distortions?
Carefully. There will be distortions once it gets unrolled again, but as long as it wasn't kinked, it should be okay, especially once you hit it with the IR laser to handle distortions.