Astronaut-Aided Construction of
a Large Lunar Telescope
Progress Report 7/31/02
Colorado School of Mines
Participants
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Dr. Robert King
Dr. Jeff van Cleve
Mark Kerr*
Mike Duke(PI)
Paul van Susante*
Yuki Takahashi*
Michelle Judy *
* Students
CSM
Ball Aerospace
UNM
CSM
CSM
CSM/UC Berkeley
LaRC
Mining, Engineering/robotics
Astronomer/space instruments
Architect
Lunar Geology and Development
Civil Engineer/Engineering systems
Astrophysics/Physics
Aerospace Engineering
Astronaut-Aided Construction of a Large Lunar Telescope
Objectives:
-Evaluate the possibility of construction
and operation of a large (25 m) telescope
on the Moon
-Determine the roles of humans and
robots in construction and operations
-Provide first order arguments that compare
a lunar telescope to similar telescopes in
space
Task schedule (2002):
Assemble team – May
Literature review and definition of
facility - June
Scenario development; task assignments – July
Detailed design of facility – August
Evaluation of human/robotic tasks – Sept.
Analysis of scenario – October
Preparation of final report - November
Resources
Colorado School of Mines
$32,565
RASC (support of King, Duke, $34,000
Takahashi)
LaRC (support of Judy)
TBD
Ball Aerospace (support of
Van Cleve) (est.)
2,400
Mark Kerr is self-supporting
Requirement for Very Large
Telescopes
• Next Generation Space Telescope will be capable at
wavelengths as long as 5-10mm; mirror of 8m diameter
• 25 m mirror capable of observations at wavelengths to 25
mm with approximately 10 times the light gathering
power
• Addition of a second large mirror or several smaller ones
adds interferometric capability
• Such facilities will provide the capability to:
– Directly image planets around nearby stars
– Significantly extend the age of galaxies that can be observed
Rationale for Lunar IR Telescope
• Environmental conditions of lunar surface are
superior; environmental concerns, mostly dust, can be
minimized by careful design
• Low temperature operating conditions at lunar poles
are advantageous for IR telescopes
• Telescope facility can be augmented or improved as
technology changes, with little additional
infrastructure
• Transportation costs to the Moon will be comparable
to those to Earth-Sun Lagrangian points when
propellants are available from lunar sources (Polar ice
deposits)
Lunar Environment
• Lunar environment is seismically stable
• High vacuum; no wind vibrations
• Permanently-shadowed craters at South Pole are very
cold (<80K); nearby access to sunlit areas; no sunavoidance required
• Slow rotation rate provides for long exposures
• Low gravity (1/6-g); Moon provides inertial base for
rotating machinery
• Topography useful for shielding telescopes from
disruptive activities
• Micrometeoroid impact flux ~ ½ that of free space
• Dust is the principal environmental issue, but can be
avoided by engineering design
Lunar Observatory Concept
• A complex of telescopes will be erected in
Shackelton Crater at the Moon’s South Pole
• The crown jewel(s) will be 25 m diameter AltAzimuth telescopes
• These will be supported by 3 m telescopes that can
be incorporated into an interferometric array
• The observatory can be emplaced and expanded
over a period of decades, using a common
infrastructure of space transportation, surface
transportation, habitats and supporting facilities
Design of 25 m telescope
• Alt-azimuth design
• Utilize superconducting bearings for rotational motions
(altitude, azimuth)
• Construct most parts of graphite-epoxy or more advanced
lightweight but strong materials
• Designed to utilize robots for construction of foundation,
carrying, joining, erecting truss structures, installing mirror
segments, etc.
• Mirror elements to be demountable for resurfacing of mirror
• Construction system designed so that pieces of telescope never
touch lunar surface and are protected from dust
• Instruments located in easily-serviced areas
• Light-lines established for interferometric arrays
Infrastructure Requirements
• Space transportation system
– Use “Lunar Gateway” architecture with transfer point at Earth-Moon L-1
– Produce propellants from lunar polar hydrogen; processing facility located
in area where contamination of telescope will not occur
– Landing/ascent facility located at a distance and shielded by topography
from telescope
• Human support (habitat) outside permanent shadow
– Crew of 6 on 3-6 month tours of duty
• “Construction shack” in shadow, near telescopes
– Crew of 2 for two week tours
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Logistics facility for staging articles during construction
Surface transportation system – minimize dust
Power system
Communications facility
Robotic Systems Requirements
• Surface transportation of equipment from logistics area to
telescopes
• Emplacement of foundation supports
• Erection of telescope elements, trusses, using robots
attached to structure
• Emplacement of mirror elements utilizing robotic arms
• Sensors and actuators on mirror elements for fine
adjustments
• Designed so that any piece of telescope can be dismantled
for replacement or repair
• Robots have high level autonomy, but can be controlled by
on-site humans when necessary
Requirements for on-site humans
• Human are required for different tasks at different stages
of construction and operation
– Site preparation – humans plan layout, identify location of
foundation piers, teleoperate robots that excavate and emplace
piers, verify proper emplacement of piers
– Construction phase – humans supervise robots that construct the
facility; employ observation robots to inspect and test at key
times in construction sequence
– Commissioning phase – humans observe performance as
telescopes are initially activated; determine quality of operation;
generate “fixes” to problems; may manufacture hardware in
lunar machine shop
– Operational phase – humans supervise calibration of instruments,
instrument changeout
Project Activity Plan
• May, 2002 – Assemble team
• June, 2002 – Background literature search, understand
rationale for lunar observatory, determine characteristics
of observatory
• July 2002 – Begin initial design studies for 25 m
telescope; review state-of-art in erecting large space
structures
• August - September 2002 – Define detailed roles for
humans, robots; define infrastructure elements
• October – Develop detailed construction sequence
• November – Parametric cost analysis; prepare final
report
Tentative Outline of Final Report
1.
2.
Introduction
Comparison of alternatives for very large telescopes (Earth,
Space, Moon)
3. Lunar Environment considerations
4. Lunar observatory concept
5. Elements of telescope construction and operation
6. Evaluation of roles of humans and robots
7. Possible synergies of lunar telescopes with other activities
8. Infrastructure elements; Technology requirements
9. Preliminary cost model
10. Conclusions and Recommendations
References