Скачать или смотреть Flute Mirror | Building very large optical mirrors in space

The Axiom-1 mission carried out the -Fluidic Telescope Experiment (FLUTE) - that could revolutionize astronomy. FLUTE looks to study the unique characteristics of microgravity to create a lens from liquid polymers.

Detecting more details and reaching further into the distant Universe require large apertures or mirrors. However, launching these into space is a challenge. Take as an example the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). The initial proposal was for a 9-meter mirror with very sophisticated instruments that would allow us to achieve a large set of scientific goals.

The design, however, changed over time due to two limitations for all space missions - weight and size. These limitations are due to the power of the available rockets and the maximum size of the rocket's fairing, which protects the telescope during launch. Although the project scientists quickly realized that a 9 meters telescope was out of the question, engineers at NASA, Northrop Grumman, and Ball Aerospace were able to design a 6.5 meters lightweight foldable telescope.

The instruments on board JWST, built by different teams in Europe, the USA, and Canada, also had to change designs so the whole spacecraft could meet the weight and size requirements.

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