NASA gets two unneeded Hubble-sized spy telescopes | Ars Technica

http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/...py-telescopes/

Today, news broke that the National Reconnaissance Office, which handles satellite-based surveillance, had agreed to transfer two space-capable telescope lens systems to NASA. At a press call held today, NASA administrators said that while most of the remaining structure for a space-based telescope would still have to be built, the gift could jump-start a planned infrared survey telescope called WFIRST. That is, if Congress allocates money to take advantage of the gift. But at best, the hardware won't be in orbit until the start of the next decade.

On 05/06/2012 12:00 AM, Sam Wormley wrote:
http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/...py-telescopes/


Today, news broke that the National Reconnaissance Office, which
handles satellite-based surveillance, had agreed to transfer two
space-capable telescope lens systems to NASA. At a press call held
today, NASA administrators said that while most of the remaining
structure for a space-based telescope would still have to be built,
the gift could jump-start a planned infrared survey telescope called
WFIRST. That is, if Congress allocates money to take advantage of the
gift. But at best, the hardware won't be in orbit until the start of
the next decade.

WFIRST seems like a perfect reuse for these surplus military satellites.
WFIRST was supposed to have 1.5m mirror, with these, it'll have 2.4m
mirrors -- even bigger! All they need to do is add electronics, that's
the part where they need funding.

Yousuf Khan

In article ,
Yousuf Khan wrote:

WFIRST seems like a perfect reuse for these surplus military satellites.
WFIRST was supposed to have 1.5m mirror, with these, it'll have 2.4m
mirrors -- even bigger! All they need to do is add electronics, that's
the part where they need funding.

Well, plus the whole "get it up into orbit" thing.

Does a 2.4m mirror have decent resolution in the IR?

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On Jun 5, 10:24*am, (Paul Ciszek) wrote:
In article ,
Yousuf Khan wrote:



WFIRST seems like a perfect reuse for these surplus military satellites.
WFIRST was supposed to have 1.5m mirror, with these, it'll have 2.4m
mirrors -- even bigger! All they need to do is add electronics, that's
the part where they need funding.

Well, plus the whole "get it up into orbit" thing.


Time to go begging to the Russians or Chinese, I guess.
"HOPE AND CHANGE!"

On Tue, 5 Jun 2012 09:36:56 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:

Well, plus the whole "get it up into orbit" thing.


Time to go begging to the Russians or Chinese, I guess.
"HOPE AND CHANGE!"

Why? We have all sorts of launch vehicles capable of placing these in
orbit.

Chris L Peterson wrote in
:

On Tue, 5 Jun 2012 09:36:56 -0700 (PDT), RichA
wrote:

Well, plus the whole "get it up into orbit" thing.


Time to go begging to the Russians or Chinese, I guess.
"HOPE AND CHANGE!"

Why? We have all sorts of launch vehicles capable of placing these in
orbit.


And no money to do it till 2020...They probably won't anyway, if the Webb
is a success.

On Jun 5, 6:36*pm, RichA wrote:

Time to go begging to the Russians or Chinese, I guess.
"HOPE AND CHANGE!"

Not the Russians. The unelected clowns have just voted for Soviet 2.1

Dictatorship, injustice, concrete, corruption, inequality, mass
poverty, mafia, gulags, propaganda, empty patriotism, hunger and rust.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18336097

Will they never learn?

On Jun 6, 5:23*am, "Chris.B" wrote:
On Jun 5, 6:36*pm, RichA wrote:



Time to go begging to the Russians or Chinese, I guess.
"HOPE AND CHANGE!"

Not the Russians. The unelected clowns have just voted for Soviet 2.1

Dictatorship, injustice, concrete, corruption, inequality, mass
poverty, mafia, gulags, propaganda, empty patriotism, hunger and rust.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18336097

Will they never learn?

As opposed to the "democratic" Chinese? They both stink.

On Jun 6, 6:47*pm, RichA wrote:

As opposed to the "democratic" Chinese? *They both stink.

Agreed. But not the entire population.
Just their completely evil and corrupt leaders.
And all their evil, sadistic henchmen.
Who so enjoy carrying out their orders.

Just to add to the strangeness of modern politics: The Chinese
military, tinpot dictator is visiting Denmark. Home of complete
freedom of speech. (as long as you don't mention state-funded, Islamic
fundamentalism running riot in Denmark's major cities under the guise
of multiculturalism. The Norwegian mass murderer must be spinning in
his gaming docking station) Ray Bradbury was so shocked at this
extraordinary turn of events that he has chosen to pass away in
protest. You could call it artistic license.

The Chinese dictator has come to Denmark to personally thank all the
highly-rewarded, early-retired, Danish, ex-managing directors. For
exporting so many real Danish jobs. Not to mention all the underlying
technology and decades of research and expertise, patents and insight
which made Denmark's manufacturing base unique and valuable to Denmark
and the West.

It was all just given away to the Chinese dictatorship for a few
thousand kroner, an early pension and a new Audi in untaxed bonuses.
Thereby shortening the Chinese nation's engineering learning curve by
several decades in a wide range of engineering fields and advanced
materials technology. No doubt it will all prove very useful when the
Chinese rule the world. Which will probably be a couple of years after
the next 'Merkin election buys another Republican, neo-fascist,
religio-moronic puppet for big business interests and sinks the
unsinkable aircraft carrier.

BTW: Occupied Tibet is closed to all foreigners except the Chinese
occupying dictatorship. The smell of burning Tibetans was deemed
unhealthy for tourists with unfettered access to the world's media.
Fahrenheit 451? Y'all couldn't make it up! ;-))))))))))))))))))))))