Disruptive space telescope concepts, designs, and developments: OASIS and Nautilus -INVITED

• Published in: EPJ Web of conferences Vol. 238; p. 6001
• Main Authors: Kim, Dae Wook, Walker, Christopher K., Apai, Dániel, Milster, Tom D., Takashima, Yuzuru, Schneider, Glenn, Liang, Rongguang, Kim, Young-sik, Fellows, Chuck, Zhang, Yingying, Gasper, Andras, Smith, I. Steve, Crowe, Devon, Bixel, Alex, O’Dougherty, Stefan, Sirsi, Siddhartha, Chandra, Aman, Phan, Andy, Wang, Zichan, Purvin, Kira, Quach, Henry, Esparza, Marcos, Berkson, Joel, Spires, Oliver, Choi, Heejoo, Kim, Geon Hee, Arenberg, Jonathan
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Les Ulis EDP Sciences 2020
• Subjects: Adaptive optics; Adaptive systems; Astronomical satellites; Celestial bodies; Infrared telescopes; Primary mirrors; Space telescopes; Stellar systems
• ISSN: 2100-014X; 2101-6275; 2100-014X
• DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/202023806001

Two disruptive space telescope concepts are being designed and developed at the University of Arizona; these are the 20-meter OASIS (Orbiting Astronomical Satellite for Investigating Stellar Systems) and 8.5-meter Nautilus. OASIS combines break-through inflatable aperture and adaptive optics techniques to realize the dream of a 20
+
meter class spaceborne terahertz/far-infrared telescope. In the Nautilus visible/near-infrared telescope concept, conventional primary mirrors are replaced by an ~8.5-meter MODE (Multi-order diffractive engineered) lens with 10 times lower areal density and up to 100 times lower mis-alignment sensitivity over traditional systems, enabling large-diameter optical space telescopes. The OASIS and Nautilus concepts have the potential to greatly reduce mission costs and risks compared to the current state of the art.