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Low cost applications of the spy scopes donated to NASA.
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Space Walker ![]() ![]()
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2006 12:18 am
Posts: 224 ![]() |
NASA gets two military spy telescopes for astronomy.
By Joel Achenbach, Published: June 4 Quote: The announcement Monday raised the obvious question of why the intelligence agency would no longer want, or need, two Hubble-class telescopes. A spokeswoman, Loretta DeSio, provided information sparingly. “They no longer possessed intelligence-collection uses,” she said of the telescopes. http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ ... story.html Blog post on using the new telescopes for planetary defense, asteroid prospecting, and Mars orbiter satellites: Low cost development and applications of the new NRO donated telescopes. http://exoscientist.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... tions.html Bob Clark _________________ Nanotechnology now can produce the space elevator and private orbital launchers. It now also makes possible the long desired 'flying cars'. This crowdfunding campaign is to prove it: Nanotech: from air to space. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/nano ... 13319568#/ |
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Space Station Member ![]() ![]()
Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:40 am
Posts: 476 Location: California and Michigan ![]() |
Are there any experiments that can benefit from 3 cameras on a single point in space? Topography etc. ? 3d mapping?
_________________ Let not the bindings of society hold you back from improving it.... the masses follow where the bold explore. |
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Moon Mission Member ![]() ![]()
Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:15 pm
Posts: 1050 Location: Columbus, GA USA ![]() |
Not really. At astronomical distances, the parallex from LEO is not very great. Coordinating orbital platforms for an interferometric array would be tricky.
I would be really surprised if these sats were really all that useful from a science perspective. Beyond the wear and tear on-orbit, they are probably running low on fuel. Also the optics and electronics are probably finely tuned to short ranged surface observation (spying), not for the long, far focused exposures of astronomical observation. But it was nice of the NRO to offer them instead of just de-orbiting them. |
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Space Walker ![]() ![]()
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2007 5:18 pm
Posts: 124 Location: UK ![]() |
JamesG wrote: I would be really surprised if these sats were really all that useful from a science perspective. Beyond the wear and tear on-orbit, they are probably running low on fuel. I think NRO have given NASA the optics for spacecraft which were never built, not two operating satellites. Apparently this still saves about $250 million off the cost of whatever spacecraft NASA produces from them. _________________ We love Google. Google is our friend and protector. |
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Joined: Mon Dec 12, 2011 6:40 am
Posts: 476 Location: California and Michigan ![]() |
I like the idea of a much more powerfull voyager that is vasimir powered and better equipment.
_________________ Let not the bindings of society hold you back from improving it.... the masses follow where the bold explore. |
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Joined: Mon Dec 18, 2006 11:15 pm
Posts: 1050 Location: Columbus, GA USA ![]() |
xiphius wrote: JamesG wrote: I would be really surprised if these sats were really all that useful from a science perspective. Beyond the wear and tear on-orbit, they are probably running low on fuel. I think NRO have given NASA the optics for spacecraft which were never built, not two operating satellites. Apparently this still saves about $250 million off the cost of whatever spacecraft NASA produces from them. That's what I get for just scanning through the news... ![]() |
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