Autonomous robots will one day assemble telescopes directly in space

Engineers working under the EU-funded project PULSAR, have unveiled a fully autonomous robotic demonstrator, which could construct in orbit the primary mirror of a telescope from separate parts. The system, which includes components developed by CSEM, paves the way towards the assembly of giant telescopes directly in space – telescopes that would otherwise be too big to launch into orbit in a single piece. What’s more, the autonomous system has the potential in the future to construct other large space structures, such as orbiting solar panels or solar sails.

Fully autonomous robotic demonstrator, which could construct in orbit the primary mirror of a telescope from separate parts

Space telescopes give scientists unprecedented insight into how our universe works. The well-known Hubble Telescope led to major breakthroughs in astronomy, and hopes are now high for its successor, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Launched on December 25, 2021, the satellite is en route to its destination (1.5 million kilometers from Earth), and should reach this point by January 24, 2022.

However, the potential for further discoveries is running up against a physical limit: the size of the telescope. To explore deeper and further into space, telescopes must grow to epic sizes. Given the limited payload capacity of spacecraft, sending such behemoths into space presents a real challenge.

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Autonomous robots will one day assemble telescopes directly in space

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