Future of Space Telescopes in the Era of Super Heavy Lift Launch
NASA is developing the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO) to search for life on exoplanets using advanced technology and super heavy-lift launch vehicles. Collaboration with industry partners aims for deployment in the 2040s.
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In the era of super heavy-lift launch vehicles like Starship, New Glenn, and SLS rockets, NASA is envisioning the future of space telescopes with the development of the Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO). The HWO, recommended as a high-priority project, aims to search for signs of life on planets orbiting other stars by detecting key chemical fingerprints. The telescope, designed for transport on super heavy-lift launch vehicles, is expected to have a six to eight-meter diameter mirror and advanced instruments for improved sensitivity and resolution. The emergence of these super heavy-lift launch vehicles is revolutionizing the possibilities for next-gen telescopes by overcoming mass constraints. NASA is collaborating with companies like BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman to advance key stabilizing technologies for the HWO. The telescope's success hinges on its stability and advanced technology to image exoplanets directly, marking a significant advancement in humanity's quest to find habitable worlds. Despite the rapid evolution of super heavy-lift launch capabilities, NASA aims to remain flexible to leverage future advancements for the HWO's deployment in the 2040s.
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4 commentsAll that died when the Ares program was cancelled and the intended launch platform, Ares V, went away. Starship and SLS are supposed to have a large enough fairings. So, maybe one day...
[1] https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20090014194/downloads/20... [2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YsNvpVSzbI
Noticeably absent from that list: Boeing. The next time Boeing is awarded a contract, I will immediately wonder how much money it cost them into convincing someone. I just can't see how they would ever be considered again. As in, what does Boeing need to do to prove they have fixed the glitch?
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