The Next Generation Space Telescope |
| |
Authors: | R Albrecht |
| |
Institution: | (1) Space Telescope European Coordinating Facility European Southern Observatory, Germany |
| |
Abstract: | The design life time of the Hubble Space Telescope will nominally end in 2005. Even though it might be possible to extend
the operational life beyond that date it is evident that a successor to Hubble must be planned for now. Based on the report
‘HST and Beyond’ (Dressler 1996)) and aligned with the NASA ‘Origins’ program a study has been initiated to explore options
for a telescope with an aperture of larger than 4 meters and possibly as large as 8 meters, optimized for the near infrared
(≈ 1-5 micron) to be placed in an orbit far from Earth. The study started in December 1995 and has been proceeding with considerable
momentum. At the current time three studies have been completed (NASA in-house, TRW, and Lockheed), which are being used to
explore technological and programmatic challenges. The studies are to be merged. It is impressive to see what can be done
with existing technology and within the capabilities of existing organizational arrangements. The goal is to complete the
study within one year with the goal of entering into phase A as soon as possible. Formal agreements between ESA and NASA will
have to be negotiated if Europe is to play a meaningful role in this exercise. Without such agreements, it is clear that European
astronomers will not have access to the NGST in the way that they currently enjoy the opportunities provided by the HST.
This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
| |
Keywords: | |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|