Leveraging exploration capabilities for space-based astronomical observatories

摘要

Recent work done in preparation for a potential robotic mission to the Hubble Space Telescope has verified that the capability now exists to assemble, upgrade, and service large space-based telescopes robotically. This paper recommends that future space-based telescopes explicitly take this capability into account and plan for periodic robotic upgrades and servicing, just as the Hubble Space Telescope planned for periodic human upgrades and servicing. A single robotic servicing spacecraft stored at the Earth-Moon Lagrangian point, EML1, can readily provide capabilities for assembly, instrument and component replacements, and routine and emergency servicing for all future space telescopes located in Earth orbit or at the Earth-Sun Lagrangian points, ESL1 and ESL2.