returning to the Moon: LMTs - NUCLEARSPACE MESSAGE BOARD (ACTIVE)

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TOPIC: returning to the Moon: LMTs

10kBq jaro

Date: Jan 29, 2005

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An excellent reason for returning to the Moon : http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish/pristine_view_universe_moon.html?2812005 A Pristine View of the Universe... from the Moon Summary - (Jan 28, 2005) The Hubble Space Telescope has unquestionably shown the benefits of a space-based observatory, but having a telescope far from Earth offers the current conundrum of how to maintain such a facility. Since NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration is seemingly leading humans back to the moon, why not construct an observatory there? A group of scientists from the U.S. and Canada are exploring the option of building a Deep-Field Infrared Observatory in one of the moon’s polar craters. Although not quite a garden spot, this location would provide an excellent site for a very large and very unique spinning liquid mirror telescope. [LMT] <SNIP> The concept for Angel’s NIAC proposal is a 20 meter mirror, but with the research the team has done so far, they are now looking at creating very large mirrors, with 100 meters being the big end option. <SNIP> "If we go to the North or South Pole of the moon, we’re going to image one patch of sky all the time, and so that allows you to make an extremely deep integration, much deeper even than the Hubble Deep Field." Combine that with a large aperture, and this telescope would provide a depth of observation which would be unmatched with any telescope on Earth or in space. "That’s the niche or particular strength of this telescope," Angel said. <SNIP> A 20 meter mirror would provide resolution 3 times greater than the JWST, and by integrating, or leaving the "shutter" open for long periods, like a year, objects 100 times fainter could be viewed. A 100 meter mirror would provide data that is off the charts. One of the challenges in developing an LMT on the moon is to create the bearings to spin the platform smoothly and at a constant speed. Air bearings are used for LMTs on Earth, but with no air on the moon, that is impossible. Angel and his team are looking at cryogenic levitation bearings, similar to what’s used for magnetic levitation trains to get a frictionless motion by using a magnetic field. Angel added, "As a bonus, with the low temperatures on the moon you can do that without expending any energy because you can make a superconducting magnet that allows you to make a levitation bearing that doesn’t require a continuous input of electrical power." <SNIP> Rather than build the telescope under such hostile conditions, we would attempt to build the telescope on a peak of the either of the poles, where there would be sunshine almost continuously. This would provide solar power and the conditions would be better for the people living there. All you have to do is put a cylindrical Mylar screen around the telescope to prevent the sun from ever hitting it and it will cool off just like in the bottom of the craters." http://www.universetoday.com/am/uploads/2005-0128lunar-lg.jpg <SNIP> Certainly, to build the large 20 or 100 meter telescopes there would have to be a manned presence on the moon. "So," Angel continued, "by hitching your science in that direction, you become the tail of a very big dog over which you have absolutely no control." Angel hopes that NASA and the United States can maintain the momentum of the Vision for Space Exploration and return to the moon. "I think ultimately that moving out into space is something that humans have an urge to do and will do sometime," Angel said. "When that happens, having interesting things to do once we get there is important. We have to know why we left the surface of this planet to go to the moon. We’re exploring, yes, but we can explore not only the moon, but use that as a place to do scientific research beyond the moon. I think it’s something that in the big picture should happen." __________________

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