A Workshop held at the Space Telescope Science Institute April 10-11, 2003
The NHST Working Group held a workshop on April 10-11, 2003 to discuss mission concepts, designs and instrumentation for a potential large aperture (4-10m) telescope operating at UV/optical (UVO) wavelengths. This meeting was meant as a follow-on to the Hubble Science Legacy meeting held in Chicago, April 2002, where the key science drivers were discussed (planet detection/ characterization, star/planet formation, dispersed baryons, galaxy/black hole formation, and cosmology). Potential missions to address these science themes included (but were not limited to):
1. 4 to 10-m-class visible coronagraphic telescopes with the
primary science of planet detection and characterization.
The emphasis of this workshop was to consider designs that
would deliver broader science capabilities through wider-field
imaging and spectroscopy.
2. A 4-10m-class telescope with emphasis on UVO multi-object
spectroscopy and wide-field, high spatial resolution imaging.
This workshop focused on design concepts and technologies for these missions. As strawman concepts, the designs presented at the August 2002 SPIE meeting by Bob Woodruff were considered [available shortly at the workshop website]. We solicited contributions from the community for new or improved design concepts.
In addition, we encouraged contributions on various technologies or technical issues that need to be resolved, including:
- Detectors operating at UV to Near-IR wavelengths
- Light-weight mirrors or structures
- UV coatings for optical elements
- In-space construction or novel deployment techniques
- Potential orbits and their advantages/disadvantages (radiation, thermal problems, communication)
The results of this workshop will be used by the Working Group to investigate in detail several promising mission concepts. Technologies required to carry out these missions will be used to guide future technology funding by NASA.