Options for post-JWST space telescopes

Harley A. Thronson Jr.

doi:10.1117/12.509750

30 January 2004 Options for post-JWST space telescopes

Harley A. Thronson Jr.

Proceedings Volume 5166, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts; (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.509750
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

With the selection completed of the industrial partners for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and subsequent replanning concluded, several groups and NASA have begun to consider options for subsequent major space astronomy missions. Active interest includes scientific justification for even larger space observatories, the technologies necessary to enable such missions, supporting infrastructure and facilities, system designs, and the political environment that would be receptive to the sustained funding necessary for such major missions. This paper discusses each of these issues in turn and concludes similarly to the recommendations of the NASA Exploration Team (NEXT) that a human-occupied gateway at the Earth-Moon L1 point offers several attractive opportunities for NASA and the scientific community, including primarily the capability to support very large aperture science facilities, as well as a publicly appealing option for human exploration beyond low-Earth orbit.

Citation Download Citation

Harley A. Thronson Jr. "Options for post-JWST space telescopes", Proc. SPIE 5166, UV/Optical/IR Space Telescopes: Innovative Technologies and Concepts, (30 January 2004); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.509750

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