In sci.space.policy wrote:

Henry Spencer wrote:
There's no reason why you couldn't build an OWL in space, although it
would be an expensive project if it used current infrastructure.

Speaking of big telescopes and space, would operation in space simplify
(if nothing else) the optical design of an OWL-scale segmented
telescope?

Yes, for one thing, you can relax the specs on the deformable mirror bits
of the system, as they now only have to cope with surface inaccuracies and
thermal movement, not the atmospheric.
However.
While what's needed of most of the mechanics would be a lot simpler, as
there is less weight load, ..., the overall system would not be.

On an earth based telescope, if mirror positioner 34 dies, you say oh ****,
as you've lost observations for the night, and have to send Harry up to fix
it.